The Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions held it's meeting at New Delhi on 23 October 2021 and discussed about the attacks being made on the Public Sector of the country, by the Narendra Modi government. The meeting noted with grave concern, the latest attack launched by the Modi government, in the name of "National Monetisation Pipeline", through which the invaluable national assets of the country are to be handed over to the Indian and muti-national corporates at throwaway prices. After threadbare discussion, the meeting decided to organise a National Convention of Workers at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 11.11.2021. This Convention will discuss about future struggles to be organised against all the anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the government.

The 8th circle conference of BSNLEU, UP (West) circle, is held in Tarang Hall at Madhavpuram, Meerut on 28-10-2021. Com. Ansar Ali, circle president, presided over the Conference. Com. Upendar Singh Teotia, circle secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the inaugural address. In his speech, the General Secretary explained about the settlement reached between the AUAB and the BSNL Management. He also explained about the functioning of BSNLEU, especially the issues taken up and settled during the COVID 19 pandemic period. Further, the General Secretary explained about Modi government's National Monetisation Pipeline, through which the valuable national assets, including BSNL's mobile towers are being handed over to the Corporates at throwaway price and told that, this new form of privatisation should be opposed tooth and nail.

The, COVID 19 pandemic situation has greatly improved in all the states now. In view of this, all the circle conferences, wherever they have become due, should be conducted without further delay. The circle secretaries are requested to immediately contact the General Secretary and get the date for holding their respective circle conferences. The CHQ has already announced that, the All India Conference of BSNLEU will be held at Guwahati in March, 2021. Before the All India Conference, all the circle conferences which have become due, should be completed. Starting from August 2021, the circles of Telengana, Odisha, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, UP(East) and UP(West) have conducted their conferences. Andhra Pradesh circle is conducting it's conference in  November. Hence, the remaining circles are also requested to hold their conferences immediately.

जेएओ भर्ती नियमों में संशोधन- Amendments to JAO Recruitment Rules. बीएसएनएलईयू-BSNLEU के महासचिव-General Secretary ने सीएमडी बीएसएनएल-CMD, BSNL और निदेशक (एचआर)-Director(HR) से शीघ्र कार्रवाई करने का आग्रह किया हैं।

जेएओ भर्ती नियमों में कुछ संशोधनों को शामिल करने के लिए बीएसएनएलईयू लगातार कड़ी मेहनत कर रहा है । बीएसएनएलईयू ने जेएओ भर्ती नियमों में कुछ कठोर शर्तों को हटाने की मांग की है। दिनांक 27.10.2021 को बीएसएनएल के सीएमडी सहित एयूएबी और निदेशक मंडल के बीच हुई मीटिंग में साथी पी.अभिमन्यु, महासचिव  ने बीएसएनएल के सीएमडी बीएसएनएल और निदेशक (एचआर) से बीएसएनएलईयू द्वारा दिए गये संशोधनों को शीघ्र शामिल करने पर विचार करने का आग्रह किया है । सीएमडी बीएसएनएल और निदेशक (एचआर) ने आवश्यक कार्रवाई करने का आश्वासन दिया है।

As all are aware, the AUAB held meeting with the BSNL Board of Directors, including the CMD BSNL, on 27.10.2021. Serious discussions took place on the burning issues of the employees, including payment of salary on the due date, Wage Revision, etc. An agreement has been reached, based on which the AUAB has deferred it’s agitational programme. The AUAB had insisted that the Management should issue a Record of Discussions on the settlement reached in the meeting. Accordingly, the Corporate Office has issued the Record of Discussions. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the comrades.

In the meeting held on 27.10.2021, between the AUAB and the Board of Directors, including the CMD BSNL, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, raised two burning issues. First, he pointed out that, the medical bills of the retired employees are lying pending from March, 2019 onwards. He told the CMD BSNL that the retired employees are suffering much on this account and demanded immediate payment of pending bills. He also insisted that, there should not be any discrimination in making payment of the medical bills of the serving and retired employees. Secondly, the General Secretary pointed out that, still 12 to 15 months of wages of the contract workers have not been paid. He urged upon the CMD BSNL to immediately pay the wage arrears of the contract workers also.

BSNLEU is continuously pressing hard on the Management, for incorporating certain amendments to the JAO Recruitment Rules. BSNLEU has demanded the removal of certain stringent conditions in the JAO RR. In the meeting held between the AUAB and the Board of Directors, including the CMD BSNL, on 27.10.2021, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, urged upon the CMD BSNL and the Director (HR) to consider expeditious incorporation of the amendments being insisted upon by BSNLEU. Both the CMD BSNL and the Director (HR) have assured take the necessary action.

A meeting between the AUAB and all the Directors of BSNL Board, including the CMD BSNL, was held on 27-10-2021. The following are the highlights.

1. Launching of 4G. 

CMD BSNL and the Director (CM) reported that, TCS is taking hectic efforts to supply 4G equipments to BSNL and it looks promising. The 4G core is developed by the C-DOT, with which TCS has made tie-up. The equipments will be manufactured by Tejas, which has been taken over by the TCS.  Equipments are installed at Chandigarh and Ambala and testings are going on.

2. Payment of salary on the due date. 

After prolonged discussions, the following agreement is reached.

1. Salary for October, 2021 will be paid before Deepawali.
2. November, 2021 salary will be paid on the due date, i.e., 30.11.2021.
3. December, 2021 salary will be delayed a little.
4. From January, 2022 onwards, every month salary will be paid on the due date.

3. Wage Revision. 

For the Non-Executives, Management has already taken action to reconstitute the Wage Negotiation Committee. The first meeting of this Committee will be held after Deepawali. For the Pay Revision of the Executives, CMD BSNL advised to take up the issue with the DoT. He assured to arrange a meeting between the AUAB and the Secretary, Telecom.

4. Restructuring. 

The CMD BSNL informed that, Restructuring of BSNL’s Manpower is approved by the Board, with 12% increase in the existing strength. The new strength will be 36,000 Executives and 35,000 Non-Executives. Totally, 71,000.

5. Withdrawal of show cause notices. 

The pensionary benefits of Com.S. Sivakumar, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com.Kabir Das, GS, BSNL OA and Com.Goud, President, BSNL MS, is being settled. The pending cases of four serving General Secretaries / Presidents will be settled before New Year.

6. Holding of various LICEs of Non-Executives and LDCEs of Executives. 

Notifications will be issued before 30.11.2021.

7. Restrictions imposed on Temporary Transfers under Rule 9. 

A Committee will be formed with four Representatives from Unions / Associations and four Management Representatives. Based on the recommendations of the Committee, the restrictions will be relaxed.

8. Threatening letters against agitations. 

Threatening / harsh wordings will be avoided.

9. SAB contributions pending from April, 2020. 

CMD BSNL assured to clear the payment by March, 2022.

10. Regular interaction between the AUAB and the Management. 

The CMD BSNL assured that bi-monthly meetings will be held between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB for briefing on developmental activities.

After meeting the Management, the AUAB met and decided to defer the agitational programmes, in view of the improvements on issues. 

टीसीएस-TCS बीएसएनएल-BSNL को 4G उपकरणों की आपूर्ति करने के लिए पूर्णरूप से तैयार है  : प्रबंधन-management ने एयूएबी-AUAB को सूचित किया ।

बीएसएनएल की 4G सेवा की शुरुआत सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एयूएबी लगातार संघर्ष कर रही है। सरकार ने बीएसएनएल को विदेशी विक्रेताओं से उपकरण खरीदने पर रोक लगा दी है । सरकार ने बीएसएनएल को 4G सेवा प्रदान करने के लिए अपने बीटीएस-BTS को अपग्रेड करने की अनुमति भी नहीं दी । अब प्रबंधन ने सूचित किया है कि टीसीएस (टाटा कंसल्टेंसी सर्विस)-TCS ( Tata Consultancy Service ) बीएसएनएल को 4G उपकरणों की आपूर्ति करने के लिए तैयार है । टीसीएस ने कोर इक्विपमेंट-core equipment(स्विचिंग इक्विपमेंट-switching equipment) के लिए सी-डॉट-C DOT के साथ करार किया है। टीसीएस ने तेजस-Tejas नामक कंपनी को भी अपने अधिकार में ले लिया है, जो उपकरणों का निर्माण करेगी। प्रबंधन ने यह भी बताया कि चंडीगढ़ और अंबाला में उपकरण लगाए गए हैं और लगातार टेस्टिंग चल रही है। इसके अलावा, हमें सूचित किया गया है कि माननीय संचार मंत्री-Hon’ble Minister of Communications बीएसएनएल को यूएसओ फंड-USO Fund से धन उपलब्ध करवाने के लिए प्रयास कर रहे हैं। यह बताने की जरूरत नहीं है कि, एयूएबी-AUAB के बैनर तले यूनियनों और एसोसिएशन्स की एकता और बीएसएनएल के कर्मचारियों के लगातार संघर्षों ने इन सभी घटनाक्रमों का मार्ग प्रशस्त किया है । हालांकि एयूएबी-AUAB स्थिति पर नजर बनाए रखेगा। इसमें जरूरी हस्तक्षेप भी किए जाएंगे ताकि बीएसएनएल की 4G सेवा को जल्द शुरू किया जा सके ।