Based on the demand of BSNLEU, the BSNL Management has implemented the “BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy, 2021”. As per the notification, this Insurance Scheme will become operational from 01.09.2021. In that case, the premium amount has to be paid to the Insurance Company in the month of August, 2021, itself. It means, the premium amount has to be deducted from the salary of August, 2021. But normally, the monthly salary of the employees is being paid belatedly. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL demanding that the August, 2021 salary should be paid on the due date. Alternatively, BSNLEU has demanded that, the premium amount should be paid to the Insurance Company in advance by the BSNL Management. 

The DPE, vide it’s letter issued on 19.11.2020, froze the IDA of the Central Public Sector Employees that is to be paid w.e.f. 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021. According to that letter, the frozen instalments of IDA are to be paid w.e.f. 01.07.2021. It is already 31^st July, 2021 today. However, so far the DPE has not notified to the Central Public Sector Enterprises, about the quantum of IDA that has become due w.e.f 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021, 01.04.2021 and 01.07.2021. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Secretary, DPE, demanding to immediately notify the increase in the IDA rates for the above mentioned period.

The Management has given it's proposals, regarding the future manpower (future staff strength in various cadres) of the Company. In that, the Management has intimated that the Sr. TOA cadre will become a dying cadre. BSNLEU immediately wrote to the Director (HR), strongly opposing this. In the meeting, held between the Director (HR) and the Unions on 20.07.2021, BSNLEU raised this issue and strongly demanded that, the Sr.TOA cadre should continue to be a live cadre. After detailed discussion, the Director(HR) accepted BSNLEU's demand. Due to the efforts taken by BSNLEU, the cadre of Sr. TOA shall continue to remain as a live cadre. Following this, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) today, demanding to give the Management's proposal for the norms for the Sr.TOA cadre. Thereafter, BSNLEU will submit it's views on it.

BSNLEU has long been telling the Management that, the cluster-based outsourcing system has sharply increased the expenditure, while the quality of service has declined drastically. Moreover, massive disconnection of landline and broadband connections is taking place after the outsourcing. Hence, once again BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL with fact and figures to prove that, the cluster-based outsourcing system is a total failure and has demanded a thorough review of this outsourcing system.

On 19.06.2021, BSNLEU had an online Formal Meeting with the Director (HR). The SR Branch of the Corporate Office, has issued a casual and careless minutes for this meeting. For example, the minutes has got no letter number or date. Further, on important items like resumption of the wage negotiations, the minutes has carried either vague or irrelevant replies. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), raising the issues and has requested to issue modifications to the minutes.

All are aware that BSNLEU is continuously insisting upon the Management to hold the various LICEs of the Non-Executives. However, the Management had been telling that, the LICEs for the Non-Executives would be held only after the completion of the Restructuring of Manpower in BSNL. However, on 08.07.2021, the Management has promoted 3,697 JTOs as SDEs. Implementing the promotions of the Executives and telling the Non-Executives to wait for the LICEs is nothing but a foul-game played by the Management. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL to immediately hold the LICEs of the Non-Executives, without waiting for the Restructuring to be completed.

According to the deployment plan approved by the Cabinet, the number of PGM/GM level officers to be posted in BSNL during 2021-22 is just 199. However, today, the working number is more than 425. About 130 PGM/GM level officers are working in excess from 2020 onwards and in 2021-22 the number will be around 225. Management is simply accommodating hundreds of senior officers in BSNL without any justification and paying them the benefits of 7th CPC, LTC, Transport Allowance, TA, Tuition Fee reimbursement etc., on the revised rates, when the same are denied to BSNL employees. It is identified that, about 20 PGM/GMs are in excess at BSNLCO itself. BSNL is paying about Rs.90 to 100 crore per annum as salary and allowances for the excess officers working in BSNL.

The Corporate Office has issued order today, implementing the JTO to SDE promotions for 3,697 officials. BSNLEU welcomes this order since this has given relief to the JTOs who have been suffering without promotion for long years. However, in the similar manner, BSNLEU wants the LICEs of the Non-Executives should also be conducted, without waiting for the process of the ‘Restructuring’ to be completed. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding the immediate holding of LICEs of the Non-Executives.

BSNLEU is taking continuous efforts to settle the issue of non-declaration of JTO LICE results in Punjab circle. However, Management has not taken the any step so far, to settle this issue. Under these circumstances, the Punjab circle union of BSNLEU is organising massive dharna in front of Punjab CGM Office on 12-07-2021, demanding settlement of the issue. In this backdrop, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to immediately settle the issue as per the DoP&T letter dated June 15, 2018. 

After dragging on for one and half years, the BSNL Management has finalised it’s proposals for the future manpower of the Company. It has declared the Sr.TOA and ATT as dying cadres. The strength of the JE cadre has been increased from 7,148 to 7,923, which is not sufficient. The strength of the JTO cadre, which is the promotional cadre of JE has been reduced from 14,536 to 11,283. This will severely affect the promotional prospects of the JE cadre. Further, the strength of the JAO cadre has also been cut down from 2,351 to 1,890. This will also affect the promotions of the Non-Executives.  BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) strongly opposing these proposals and requesting to hold a discussion on this issue.