BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to consider  the extension of the period of retention of the quarters, by retired employees, by 6 more months. This demand is raised because a good section of the employees who have retired under VRS, as well as under superannuation, are unable to get rented accommodation, in view of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The BSNL Management had already taken decision to provide concessional broadband connections, at the residences of below the JAG level employees. However, so far no decision has been taken regarding providing concessional FTTH connections to the employees. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to provide residential FTTH connections to the serving and retired and BSNL Non-Executive employees at 50% concession.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, vide it’s instructions issued on 29^th August, 2020, has stated that, pregnant women should stay at home, to avoid contracting the Corona Virus infection. However, it has been brought to the notice of BSNLEU that, these instructions are not being implemented in BSNL. In view of this, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), requesting him to issue necessary guidelines to the CGMs, to exempt pregnant women employees from attending office / duty.

BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding that special casual leave should be granted to the officials affected with COVID-19, who are also instructed to remain under quarantine, to stop the further spreading of the disease. The Railway Ministry has issued instructions that, special casual leave should be sanctioned to it’s officials, who are placed under quarantine. The Indian Railways has also stipulated that special casual leave can be granted up to 30 days to the officials placed under quarantine. BSNLEU has demanded the Director (HR) to take an early decision for sending instructions to the CGMs, for the granting of special casual leave to the affected BSNL employees, who are instructed to remain under quarantine. 

Management issued the notification yesterday, for holding the 39^th National Council meeting. However, contrary to the request of the Staff Side for holding the meeting as an online, notification was issued for holding the meeting physically in the Corporate Office. On seeing this, the Staff Side wrote a letter today to the Director (HR) insisting for an online meeting. Thereafter, it was informed by the SR Branch that the 39^th National Council meeting would be held as an online meeting, as per the request of the Staff Side.

The Management has introduced the “Comprehensive Renting-Out Policy” (CROP-2020). In accordance with this new policy, the rent of the retired employees and employees having quarters other than their place of posting, has been increased in a big way. The revised rent is applicable from 01.09.2020. Considering the increase in the rent, the retired employees cannot leave their BSNL quarters, since getting a rental accommodation during this COVID-19 pandemic situation is next to the impossible. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, requesting to reduce the burden on account of revision of the rent.

BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to ensure the immediate payment of salary to the employees. BSNLEU has also mentioned in the letter that, Management comes forward to make payment of the salary, only when the employees organise agitational programmes. The Union has urged upon the Management to immediately arrange payment of salary for the month of August, 2020 and also to ensure payment of salary on the last date of every month. 

The DPE has already issued instructions that, the period of absence of officials, who are held up in far off places, during the lock-down period, should be treated as on duty. BSNLEU has already written three letters to the Director (HR), as well as the Sr.GM(Estt.) demanding implementation of this DPE letter by BSNL. The issue has been discussed telephonically many times with the officers also. Meanwhile, DoP&T has issued another letter on 21.08.2020, insisting implementation of it’s earlier letter, by the Public Sector Enterprises. Based on this, BSNLEU has once again written to the Director(HR) today, demanding implementation of the DPE's directives.

The BSNL Management has failed to implement the revival of BSNL. It is unable to launch the Company’s 4G service. As a result, the Management is unable to find ways and means to increase the revenue of the Company. All the tall claims made by the CMD BSNL that, the Company would come into profit-making after the implementation of the VRS, has not happened. Even after retrenching 79,000 employees, the Management is unable to pay salary to the remaining employees on the due date. It is unable to pay the bills of the vendors, contractors, empaneled hospitals, as well as bills on electricity, rent, etc. So, to save it’s skin, the Management has retrenched the contract workers massively. In a letter issued a couple days back, the Corporate Office has directed the CGM’s to remove all the let-out contract workers also. Undoubtedly, the BSNL’s services will go to the dogs if the left-out contract workers are also retrenched. This is a reckless decision. BSNLEU, has written to the CMD BSNL, strongly protesting the instructions contained in this letter. BSNLEU has also requested the Management to sit with the unions and associations and to discuss this issue through video conferencing, so as to take a meaningful decision on the matter.

In the online Formal meeting held with the Director (HR), on 28.08.2020, BSNLEU took up an item related to the reduction in pension of the retired Sr.TOAs, belonging to Maharashtra circle. Despite several letters written by BSNLEU to the Member (Finance), the problem remains unsettled. Hence, BSNLEU requested that the Corporate Office take up the issue with the Member (Finance). The request of BSNLEU was accepted by the Director (HR).  As a follow up to this, BSNLEU wrote to the Sr.GM(SR) today, requesting to ensure that the letter is expeditiously written to the Member (Finance), on the issue. In addition to this, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically  spoke to Shri A.M.Gupta, Sr.GM(SR) and requested for expeditious action.