Non-disbursement of salary on the due date of every month, has been one of the most burning problems of the BSNL employees, for the past couple of years. In the meeting held between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB on 27.10.2021, an agreement was reached on this issue. Accordingly, salary would be disbursed on the due date of every month, starting from January, 2022 onwards. However, it is a matter of concern that, certain assurances given by the CMD BSNL to the AUAB, in the meeting held on 27-10-2022, have not been implemented. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, reminding him about the agreement, and demanding disbursement of January, 2022 salary on 31-01-2022 and also disbursement of salary on the due date of every month hereafter.

The Corporate Management has amended Para 9 of the BSNL Transfer Policy and has imposed stringent conditions in the availing of temporary transfers by the employees. As a result, employees are unable to get temporary transfers. The issue was discussed in the meeting held on 27.10.2021, between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB. It was agreed in that meeting that, a Joint Committee, consisting of the representatives of the Management Side, as well as the representatives of the AUAB, would be formed to suggest relaxations. However, the Management has not taken action so far, for the constitution of the Joint Committee. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) today, demanding to reconstitute the Joint Committee immediately for the review of the restrictions that have been imposed. 

Telecommunication technologies are undergoing a rapid change. Especially, during the past one decade, technological changes have swept the telecom sector. Consequently, the job content of many cadres have immensely changed. 99% of the DR JEs are Engineering Graduates. They man all the high-tech areas in BSNL. Similarly, the Sr.TOA and Telecom Technician cadres are also handling high technologies. These aspects are discussed at length in the Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, held online on 22.12.2021. After threadbare discussions, the CEC meeting has unanimously decided to demand upgradation of the pay scale of JE from NE 9 to NE 10 (36400-94500), upgradation of the pay scale of the Sr.TOA cadre from NE 7 to NE 8 (30600-79600) and upgradation of the pay scale of the Telecom Technician cadre from NE 6 to NE 7 (26600-69300). The CHQ of BSNLEU has written a detailed letter to the CMD BSNL today, communicating BSNLEU’s demand for the upgradation of the pay scales for JE, Sr.TOA and TT cadres. 

BSNLEU is demanding certain important amendments to the JAO RR. Further, the Union is demanding that, the JAO LICE should also be held immediately. This issue is already discussed with the CMD BSNL a few days ago. As a follow up to this, BSNLEU wrote a letter to the PGM(Pers.) today, demanding speedy action on the demands.

The Establishment Branch of the Corporate Office has already written to all the CGMs, seeking information regarding the number of SC/ST/OBC employees working in TT, JE and JTO cadres. This input is very much required for holding the LICEs. It is learnt that only a few circles have sent this information to the Corporate Office so far.  Hence, the CHQ has written to all the Circle Secretaries, requesting them to immediately meet their respective CGMs and arrange to send the inputs  to the Corporate Office without further delay. 

In the meeting held between the AUAB and the Board of Directors on 27-10-2021, assurance was given that, all the LICEs would be held without further delay and that the notifications for holding these LICEs would be issued by 30.11.2021. However, the Management has watered down this assurance and has only called for inputs for holding JTO(T), Junior Engineer and Telecom Technician LICEs. There are other LICEs of the Non-Executives, like the JAO, JTO(OL), for which no action has been initiated for holding those LICEs. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding that: -

a)    Action should be taken for holding all the LICEs of the Non-Executives. 

b)    Proper notifications should be issued immediately for holding the LICEs. 

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU is successfully held online yesterday the 22.12.2021. 48 members of the CEC attended the meeting. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, presided over the meeting. Homage was paid to the comrades who had left us after the last CEC meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, presented the note for discussion in the meeting. All the participants took part in the deliberations. The meeting unanimously decided to participate in the two day General Strike, to be organised on 23^rd and 24^th February, 2022, as per the call of the Central Trade Unions. The meeting also discussed many important issues of the employees and has taken decisions on them. 

BSNL Management is not paying wages to the contract workers. In some circles, contract workers’ wages are not paid even upto 18 months. BSNLEU is repeatedly writing to the CMD BSNL and also discussing this issue with him. However, the Management continues to exploit the contract workers, by not making payment of wages on time. Hence, once again, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, reminding him that BSNL is not a private limited company and thus, it’s should not exploit the contract workers.

The MoUs signed between BSNL and Canara Bank and the Union Bank of India have expired long back. BSNLEU is continuously taking up the issue with the Director (HR) and the Sr.GM(CBB). However, so far, the MoUs are not renewed and the employees are suffering. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate action for the renewal of Canara Bank and the Union Bank of India.

Payment of medical bills of the retired employees is pending from March, 2019. The CHQ of BSNLEU is repeatedly taking up this issue. Once again, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding payment of all pending medical bills of the retired employees. BSNLEU has reminded the CMD BSNL that, the retired BSNL employees have also toiled hard and have immensely contributed for the growth of the Company. BSNLEU has told that, the Management should not neglect the welfare of the retired employees.

BSNLEU is continuously raising it’s voice against the unwarranted harassments being caused to more than 850 ST employees of Maharashtra circle, by the Chief General Manager, Maharashtra circle. These harassments are being caused, based on a baseless and frivolous complaint given by someone, accusing that the caste certificates of these employees are bogus. All these employees have already completed 25 to 35 years of service. Adding insult to the injury to these ST employees, the retirement benefits of the ST employees retired under VRS / superannuation are also not settled. BSNLEU has many times raised it’s objection to this injustice also. Under these circumstances, the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, has issued categorical instruction now, stating that, the retirement benefits should not be withheld, due to the non-completion of verification of caste certificate. In view of this, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate settlement of the retirement benefits of the ST employees of Maharashtra circle, who have retired under VRS / superannuation.

The MoU signed between BSNL and the New India Assurance, for implementing a Medical Insurance Scheme for the willing BSNL employees, did not materialise. Non-approval of the MoU by the Corporate Office of the New India Assurance is the reason. Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the Director (HR), demanding to take necessary steps, for the early implementation of a Medical Insurance Scheme for the willing BSNL employees.

Based on the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India dated 07.08.2019, the regularisation of Shri S. Venkateshwara Rao, Ex-TM, Andhra Pradesh circle, who is now working as JE, STP, Vijayawada, should be preponed from 01.04.1993 to 01.12.1982. Since, this case relates to the DoT period, the BSNL Corporate Office has referred the case for the approval of the DoT. However, no action has been taken by the DoT so far. In view of this, BSNLEU, has written to the DDG(Pers.), DoT, demanding to accord speedy approval.

The medical bills of the retired employees are not being paid for the past two and half years. Cash crunch of the Company cannot be the reason. When all other payments are being made, cash crunch cannot be cited as the reason for the non-payment of the medical bills of the retired employees alone. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL today and has cautioned that this delaying tactic is not meant to force the retired employees to migrate to the CGHS. BSNLEU has demanded immediate payment of the pending medical bills of the retired employees.

On 12.11.2021, the Corporate Office has issued a letter, wherein it is stated that Special Mass cleaning of the office premises, including toilets, are to be made on every Friday. Nowhere in the letter, it is mentioned that the employees should do the cleaning. However, the words "mass cleaning" conveys the sense that, a lot of people are to be involved in this cleaning. Management has already retrenched contract workers and part time sweepers in most of the places. As such, it is not understood with whom this "mass cleaning" is to be done. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to issue necessary clarifications.

The BSNL Management is inordinately delaying the payment of IDA arrears to the Non-Executives of BSNL. Order was issued by the Hon’ble Kerala High Court on 17.02.2021 itself, directing the CMD BSNL to make payment of the IDA arrears to the Non-Executives of BSNL. However, it took eight long months for the BSNL Management to issue order for the payment. The order for payment of the IDA arrears was issued on 27.10.2021. However, the arrears are still not paid to the Non-Executives. In the letter issued on 27.10.2021 itself, the Management has mentioned that, arrears would be paid only when the funds become available. All these only shows that the BSNL Management is least interested in the welfare of it’s employees. BSNLEU has once again written a letter today to the CMD BSNL, demanding to payment the IDA arrears immediately.

A section of the Non-Executives (other than TTAs), who were appointed between 01.01.2007 and 07-05.2007 are suffering reduction in pay, compared to their pay drawn in the pre-revised pay scale. The excess amount paid in the pre-revised pay scale has been recovered from these officials. BSNLEU has already written to the Director (HR), vide letter dated 15.10.2020, demanding necessary remedial action. Since, no action has been taken, as has once again written to the Director (HR) today demanding immediate intervention on this issue. 

BSNLEU is demanding amendments to the JAO Recruitment Rules since 2016. In this connection, four letters have already been written to the Director (HR). But Management has not taken any steps till now. Hence, once again BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL today, demanding incorporation of the following amendments to the JAO Recruitment Rules immediately.

1. All Non-Executives with the requisite qualification should be allowed for JAO LICE. (Now, only the officials in 9020 – 17430 and above pay scales can appear.)
2. The upper age limit for appearing the exam should be increased from 53 years to 55 years.
3. For calculating 5 year residency period, the cut off date should be 01^st July and not 01^st January.