BSNLEU has long been demanding that, the Wage Negotiations should resume to sign the wage agreement of the Non-Executives. The AUAB has also demanded that, the Wage Revision should be settled. Recently, BSNLEU wrote to the Management, demanding that the Wage Negotiating Committee for the Non-Executives, should be reconstituted. This is because the Shri H.C. Pant, Chairman of the Wage Revision Committee, as well as many members of the Committee, have already retired under VRS / Superannuation. The Management has accepted this demand. The Corporate Office has issued letter today, requesting the Recognised Unions to nominate the Staff Side members.

In the backdrop of the agitational programmes announced by the AUAB, a marathon meeting was held between the Board of Directors of BSNL and the AUAB on 06.10.2021. However, no settlement is reached with regards to the charter of demands of the AUAB. Thereafter, the AUAB leaders met the Director (HR) and informed that, they would be forced to go ahead with the agitations, if the important issues are not settled within a week. Again, the AUAB met online on 18.10.2021 and decided to organise the Twitter Campaign on 29.10.2021. In this background, one more meeting is taking place between Directors of BSNL Board and the AUAB at 05:00 pm tomorrow the 27.10.2021.

The prices of petrol and diesel are sky-rocketing in India. While the price of petrol is being sold at Rs.107/- per litre in New Delhi today, the price of diesel is being sold at Rs.95/-. This unprecedented rise in the price of diesel is pushing up the prices of all the essential commodities being carried by lorries and trains. The working masses are severely affected by this price increase. Government says that, the increase of price of crude oil in the international market, is the reason for this. The price of crude oil currently is $80 in the international market. It must be recollected that, the price of crude oil had crossed $100 in the international market at the time when UPA was ruling. However, even at that time, the price of petrol and diesel was not so high in India, as it is today. Even now, the price of petrol in the neighbouring countries is very less, compared to India. It is because of the high taxes imposed in India. As on 22.10.2021, petrol was sold at Rs.106/- at Delhi. On the same day, the price of petrol in India’s neighbouring countries was as follows: -

The Circle Conference of BSNLEU, UP (East) circle, is being held at Faizabad. The Conference started with the hoisting of the National Flag and the Union Flag. A presidium, consisting of all the Vice Presidents is presiding over the conference. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, delivered the inaugural address of the conference. In his speech, the GS strongly criticised the National Monetisation Policy, privatisation of the Public Sector Undertakings and other pro-corporate steps being taken by the Modi government. He also explained in detail about the issues settled by the CHQ and also about the agitational programmes of the AUAB. The conference is also addressed by Shri Babu Ram, PGM (HR), UP (East) circle and Shri Prabhans Yadav, GM, Faizabad. After the lunch break, the delegates session started. Com.R.K. Mishra, Circle Secretary, presented the report on activities, on which debate by the delegates started.

A meeting of the Co-ordination Committee (CoC) of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF will take place at 18:00 hrs. on 26.10.2021. This meeting will review the implementation of the calls of the CoC viz., March to the SSA / BA offices held on 05.10.2021 and March to the CGM offices held on 22.10.2021. The meeting will also discuss about the “National Monetisation Pipeline” and the form of campaigns to oppose it.

The CHQ of BSNLEU, as well as the Co-ordination Committee (CoC) of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF, have already decided that circle and district level Co-ordination Committees should be formed. It is observed that, still the same has not been formed in some circles and districts. Hence, such of those circle and district unions of BSNLEU are called upon to immediately form the CoC, wherever it is not formed.

Employees of the Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) are entitled for payment of IDA increase four times in a year, i.e., from 01^st January, 01^st April, 01^st July and 01^st October. So far, the DPE has been announcing the percentage of IDA increase, within a few days of the above mentioned dates. The same had been promptly paid by the CPSUs also. However, the IDA increase that has become due w.e.f. 01^st July, 2021 (3.3%) and 01^st October, 2021(5.5%), were not announced so far. It is already four months since the IDA increase w.e.f. 01^st July, 2021 has become due. What is the reason for this delay? It is because, the DPE (Department of Public Enterprises), which announces the rates of IDA increase, was earlier under the Ministry of Heavy Industries. But, a few months ago, this DPE has been brought under the control of the Finance Ministry. We all know that Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, is the Finance Minister of the country. Now, employees can understand why the IDA increase is being delayed.