As has already been informed earlier, the BSNL Working Women's Coordination Committee [BSNL WWCC] is organising a seminar tomorrow the 04-03-2021, in connection with the International Women’s Day. Com.A.R.Sindhu, National Secretary of CITU will address this Seminar. She will address both in English and Hindi. The Seminar will start at 19:00 hrs. Circle Secretaries are requested to mobilise maximum number of comrades in this seminar. 

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU is being held at Chennai on 07th, 08th & 09th March, 2021. As has already been informed, the venue of the meeting is Asha Nivas Social Service Centre, No. 9, Rutland Gate, 5th Street, Thousand Lights, Near Apollo children's hospital, Chennai – 600 006. The meeting will start sharply at 10:00 am on 07.03.2021 and will be over at 17:00 hrs. on 09.03.2021. All the CEC members are requested to immediately inform the reception committee of their time of arrival. The mobile numbers and email IDs of the Reception Committee comrades are given below.

(1)   Com.S. Chellappa, AGS

Mobile No: 09444031715

E-mail ID: chellappa1960@gmail.com

(2)   Com.A Baburadhakrishnan, Circle Secretary, Tamil Nadu.

Mobile No: 09443408787

E-mail ID: agalyababu@gmail.com

(3)   Com.M. Sridhara Subramanian, Circle Secretary, Chennai.

Mobile No: 9444028285

E-mail ID: sridharbsnleu@gmail.com

The International Women’s Day falls on 08^th March. As per the decision of it’s CEC meeting, BSNLEU is observing this day every year. The BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee is organising an online seminar on 04^th March, 2021. This is because, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU will be in session on 08^th March, 2021. Apart from this, the CHQ calls upon all the district unions of BSNLEU, to observe the International Women’s Day on 08^th March, 2021, in a befitting manner. Special meetings, lectures, etc., may be organised.  Photos with reports should be sent to the CHQ.

It is reported by the media that, the government is conducting auction today, to sell 4G spectrum, to the tune of Rs.3.92 lakh crores. The Cabinet has taken decision for this auctioning in December last year. It is reported that, Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea badly need additional 4G spectrum for boosting their network capacities. Since the government is auctioning 4G spectrum, it appears the auctioning of 5G spectrum will take some more time.

BSNL has already called for EoI (Expression of Interest) from Indian companies, for procuring 4G equipments. Under these circumstances, media has reported that, the BSNL Management is looking into new options for procuring  4G equipments. Quoting the Financial Express, the ET Telecom has reported today that, procuring 4G equipments through the process already initiated by the BSNL Management, may be difficult. This is because, the government has laid down the condition that, the core equipments of the 4G network should be the manufacturing of an Indian company. It may be difficult for BSNL Management to procure 4G equipments through this route. Hence, BSNL looking into other options, including floating a new tender for procuring equipments, as well as for upgrading it's equipments.

BSNLEU is deeply saddened to know that, Com.M.Krishnan, former Secretary General of NFPE, as well as former Secretary General of the Confederation of Central Government Employees, has passed away at Thiruvananthapuram. He had been affected with COVID-19 and the best efforts taken to save his life, did not succeed. Com.Krishnan had been a great friend and well wisher of BSNLEU. He was soft-spoken, cordial and friendly to all the comrades. At the same time, he was deeply committed to the working class ideology. His death is an irreparable loss to the working class movement. BSNLEU dips it's banner and pays it’s respectful homage to the departed leader.

Com.Prakash Sharma, Assistant General Secretary of BSNLEU, as well as the Circle Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, retired from service today, after completing a long innings of unblemished service in the DoT and in BSNL. Since his last working day falls on Sunday, Com.Prakash Sharma, retired today. A well organised programme is held at Indore today, to felicitate Com.Prakash Sharma. CHQ heartily congratulates Com.Prakash Sharma and wishes him a long healthy and active retired life.

The Supreme Court has ruled that, payment of salary and pension are the right of the government employees and the government which has delayed the payment of salary and pension should pay interest at an appropriate rate. The Hon’ble Andhra Pradesh High Court had given a judgement stating that, 12% interest per annum should be paid for the delayed pension. An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court on this matter.  Hearing case, justices Y. Chandrachud and M.R. Shah, ruled that salaries constitute the rightful entitlement of the employees and are payable in accordance with law. Likewise, payment of pension is also a rightful entitlement. However, the Supreme Court reduced the rate of interest from 12% to 6%.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, had a detailed discussion with Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL today, on certain important issues. The meeting lasted for one hour and twenty minutes. Details of the issues discussed are given blow: -

1. Gag orders against holding hunger strike, dharna, etc., in BSNL.

The General Secretary pointed out that, of late, the BSNL Corporate Office is issuing instruction after instruction to the CGMs, for taking steps to stop even peaceful protest actions like, hunger strike, dharna, etc. He also complained to the CMD BSNL that, it appears that, the Management is adopting a “Divide and Rule Policy” for breaking the unity of the unions and associations in BSNL. The CMD BSNL replied that, the Management is not adopting any such policy. As regards, the complaint on instructions issued against hunger strike, dharna, etc., the CMD BSNL assured that the matter would be looked into.

2. Wage Revision.

The General Secretary strongly disapproved the stoppage of the Wage Negotiations of the Non-Executives. He pointed out that the Joint Wage Negotiation Committee was formed as per the direction issued by the DoT. He also stated that the stoppage of Wage Negotiations amounts to violation of the direction given by the DoT. He strongly demanded that the Wage Negotiations should resume immediately. The CMD BSNL assured to look into it.

3. Holding LICEs.

The General Secretary expressed his deep concern over the non-holding of various LICEs especially the JTO LICE. He also pointed out that non-holding of LICEs for the Non-Executives and implementing promotions for the Executives, is tantamount to discrimination. The CMD BSNL replied that it will take at least 4 more months to complete the process of restructuring (ascertaining the number of posts). In that case, the General Secretary demanded that the process for holding the JTO LICE should be started immediately. The CMD BSNL agreed to this.

4. Outsourcing through the SLA system.

The General Secretary pointed out that the outsourcing of works through the SLA system is a total failure and it is draining the company’s money. He demanded a thorough review of the system. The CMD BSNL admitted that there are certain short comings in the system, but asserted that the same could be overcome.  

5. Contract Workers.

The General Secretary expressed his disapproval for the large scale retrenchment of the contract workers, and that too after the retirement of 80,000 employees under the VRS. He demanded that the Management should not make any more retrenchment of the contract workers and should immediately make payment of their wage arrears. The CMD BSNL assured that the matter would be looked into.