The Ministry of Finance, as well as the Ministry of Labour, have already issued instructions, stating that there should not be any denial of wages to the contract workers, on account of the Lockdown. Once again, the Ministry of Finance has reiterated this, vide it’s letter issued on 20-05-2020. So far as the BSNL Management is concerned, it is unfortunate that, all these instructions are falling on deaf ears. The BSNL Management has not paid wages to the contract workers almost for the past one year. BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, demanding implementation of the Ministry of Finance instructions and also payment of wage arrears of the contract workers.

As a follow up to the telephonic discussion that the General Secretary had with the Director (HR) today, the CHQ has written the following letter to him, furnishing the details and demanding expeditious settlement of the issues.

It has come to the notice of the CHQ that a massive scam has taken place in the NOFN works carried out at Jorhat district of Assam circle. The accused in the scam, who was the GM of Jorhat has been allowed to retire and take full terminal benefits, even after alert has reportedly been issued to the CGM, Assam circle. Further, the Ex.GM, Jorhat has also been allowed to come to the office and to tamper the records and evidences, even after his retirement. CHQ has demanded expeditious action by the CMD BSNL in this scam.

Com.M.Shanmugam, MP (Rajya Sabha member from Tamil Nadu), as well as the General Secretary of the LPF (Labour Progressive Federation) has written to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention on the 4G tender issue. BSNLEU heartily thanks Com. M.Shanmugam, MP, for his intervention.

The BSNL Management has arbitrarily curtailed the medical facilities of the employees. The annual ceiling for the reimbursement of outdoor treatment, has been cut down from 23 days to 15 days. This curtailment of the medical facility is an injustice to the employees. On one side, the top officers are availing luxuries at the cost of the Company. On the other side, even the medical facility of the employees is being cut down. This cannot be allowed. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate restoration of the 23 days’ ceiling.

The JE LICE, under 50% quota, for the Recruitment Year 2017-18, which had been notified to be held on 07.04.2018, was postponed. In the 37th meeting of the National Council, held on 20.11.2018, it was decided to hold this exam as an “off-line” exam. However, ever since then, the Management is dilli-dallying, without issuing notification to hold this exam. BSNLEU has once again written to the Director (HR), communicating the resentment of the aspiring candidates and demanding to hold the exam without further delay.

Based on a frivolous complaint about the caste certificate, Management has not even paid provisional pension or leave encashment to Com.G.Srinivasa Rao, Khammam in Telangana Circle. BSNLEU, has written to the Sr.GM(Estt.), demanding immediate payment of provisional pension and leave encashment, pending settlement of the dispute on his caste certificate.

BSNLEU is continuously demanding relaxation to the qualifying marks of the JTO LICE, held under 50% quota, on 26-05-2019. The issue has been discussed many times with the Director (HR) and the CMD BSNL. BSNLEU has demanded that full marks should be given to all the 10 questions with multiple correct answers. Due to certain important developments like implementation of VRS etc., this issue has been relegated to the back burner. BSNLEU has once again written to the Director (HR) pointing out that, BSNL requires more hands in the JTO cadre in view of retirement of a large number of officers under VRS and also in view of the proposed induction of 4G technology in the Company.

BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate payment of salary for the month April, 2020. The Union has pointed out that, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance, have given clear cut instruction that, even payment of contract workers should not be denied on account of the Lockdown, whereas in BSNL, even salary of regular employees is not being paid on time. BSNLEU has also pointed out that, payment of salary to the employees has become the last priority of the Management and has demanded that this mindset should be given up. BSNLEU has demanded immediate payment of the April salary.