Andaman & Nicobar circle union organised a strike preparatory general body meeting at Port Blair on 09-02-2024. A good number of employees, pensioners and contract workers participated. Com.SP.Kalairajan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Andaman & Nicobar, addressed the meeting and explained about the demands on which strike is being organised by BSNLEU on 16th February, 2024. Com. S.P. Kalairajan called on the employees to fully participate in the strike and to make it a total success in Andaman & Nicobar circle.

Punjab circle union of BSNLEU organised it’s Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting at Chandigarh. Com.Sanjeev Kumar, Circle President, presided over. Com.H.S. Dhillon, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and briefed on the purpose of conducting the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained elaborately about the demands on which the strike is being organised on 16.02.2024. He severely criticised the government and the BSNL Management for not settling the Wage Revision, denying BSNL’s timely launching of 4G & 5G services and other issues. Further, he clarified that the strike is being organised purely on the demands of the BSNL employees and appealed to the employees to make the strike successful.   

A few days back, Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister, made a statement in the Parliament that, the erstwhile Government has ruined BSNL. Similar statements are already made by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Communications Minister and also by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the present Communications Minister. All these statements prove that, BSNL has become loss making not because of the employees, but only because of the wrong policies of the Government. In this background, BSNLEU has written letter to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications once again, demanding to settle the Wage Revision of BSNL employees.

The All India Centre has called on the circle and district unions to organise a Meet the Employees programme, from 12.02.2024 to 15.02.2024. The CHQ has already sent posters and handbills to all the circle and district unions. In this Meet the Employees programme, our circle and district level leaders have to meet each and every employee, irrespective of their union affiliation and mobilise them to join the strike to be held on 16-02-2024. The Meet the Employees programme should be effectively used to campaign among the employees and to make them to join the strike. 

The Chattisgarh circle union of BSNLEU organised it’s Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting at Durg today. The meeting was lively and a lot of comrades attended. Com.R.S. Bhatt, CS, welcomed all the comrades and explained about the need to organise this meeting. Com.H.S. Dhani, CP, presided and delivered the presidential address. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting. He explained in depth about the issues of non-settlement of Wage Revision, Pension Revision, extreme delay in BSNL’s 4G & 5G launching, discrimination in the Promotion Policies of the Executives and Non-Executives and also the need for a proper review of the Restructuring of Manpower scheme. He fervently appealed to the employees to massively participate in the One Day Strike to be organised on 16^th February, 2024.

On 6th Feb, circle level convention of NE2 was held at Dimapur. The Convention started after the hoisting of the union flag. In the morning, Extended CEC Meeting started started with the report of Com.Ahamad, circle Secretary. Com .R.K.Das, VP narrated the main points for discussion on which 11 comrades participated in the discussion. In the afternoon, the Convention started. Regular employees, Pensioners and casual contract workers participated. Senior veteran leader comrade Buddhi Singh (AIBDPA) inaugurated the Convention with a valuable speech. Com. R. K.Gohain CS, BSNLCCWF also spoke and supported the strike decision on 16^th February. Com. Animesh Mitra narrated the present All India situation in detail and clarified the background of 16th February strike decision. He elaborately explained the charter of demands.

The CoC of Kolkata organised a convention on 06–02–2024 in support of 16th February Strike, at Burrabazar Telephone Exchange. The Convention was presided by Com. Jayanta Ghosh. In which members of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and CTTMU, participated. Com.Manisha Biswas, Com. Biswajit Sil, Com.Sulagna Basu and Com. Shankar Kesar Nepal delivered their speech. All the speakers described why BSNL employees are going on the strike and also described different issues regarding to this strike.

The Gujarat circle Coordination Committee organised a lively convention at Ahmedabad today. A large number of working employees, pensioners and contract workers participated in this convention. Com. M.B Chaniara,CS, AIBDPA, presided over the convention. Com. Vijay Prajapati, CS, BSNLEU. welcomed everyone and spoke briefly on the need to organise the convention. Com. P.Abhimanyu, GS addressed the convention and explained in detail about the charter of demands on which the 16th February strike is being organised. He appealed to the employees to participate enmasse in the strike and to make it a grand success. Com.Sunil Thakkar, CS, BSNLCCWF, greeted the convention.

A meeting is held today between the Director (HR) and BSNLEU. Apart from the Director (HR), Ms. Anita Johri, PGM(SR) and Shri S.P. Singh, PGM(Estt.), participated. From BSNLEU, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Ashwin Kumar, Organising Secretary (CHQ), participated. The details of the discussion are as follows:-

(a)   Discussion on the strike issues.

A detailed discussion took place on the issues contained in the strike notice issued by BSNLEU. Both, the General Secretary, as well as the Organising Secretary (CHQ), well explained the charter of demands. The Management Side responded to the issues raised by the Union. Eventhough, the Director (HR) was sympathetic to the demands of the employees, no concrete settlement was given by the Management on any of the issues. Finally, the Director (HR) made an appeal to withdraw the strike. The General Secretary replied that the All India Centre of the Union would take a final call on the appeal made by the Director (HR).

(b)   Vindictive transfer of District Secretary, BSNLEU, Ghazipur.

The CHQ is continuously knocking the doors of the Corporate Management, demanding cancellation of the transfer order issued to Shri Rakesh Kumar Maurya, District Secretary, BSNLEU of Ghazipur in UP (East) circle. Today, the issue was once again raised with the Director (HR). The General Secretary pointed that, Shri Rakesh Kumar Maurya, has been transferred to Kanpur BA in violation of the Corporate Office orders on immunity from transfer. It was strongly demanded that the transfer order of Shri Rakesh Kumar Maurya, should be cancelled. The Director (HR) replied that the matter would be looked into seriously.  

(c)   Pick and Choose transfer made in CNTX(North) circle.

Shri S.C. Ramola, ACS, BSNLEU, CNTX(North) circle has been transferred in violation of the Corporate Office orders on immunity from transfer. The General Secretary vehemently protested, stating that the arbitrary transfer order issued to Shri S.C. Ramola, under Pick and Choose method. The Director (HR) assured that the matter would be looked into.