One rumour, being spreaded by a mischief-maker is that, Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications has directed the DoT, not to prepare the Cabinet Note for the wage revision of BSNL employees. This is totally a wrong information, intended to confuse the workers. It is confirmed by the Director (PSU) of the DoT, to the General Secretary, BSNLEU, that no such instruction has been issued by the Hon’ble MoS(C) to the DoT. The Director (PSU), DoT, also confirmed that preparation of the Cabinet Note is in the final stage. The AUAB is extremely unhappy over the delay in sending the Cabinet Note, for which meeting is convened to decide programme of action.

The arrangements made by the Reception Committee of the All India Conference were greatly appreciated by all. The Conference hall, food and transport arrangements, accommodation for staying, etc., etc., were done wonderfully. The Reception Committee, under the leadership of Com. C.K. Gundanna, com. H.V. Sundharshan, com. M.C. Balakrishna, com. J.V. Keshav, com. Subramanya and com. Mahatma Swamy, with their outstanding contributions, have made the Mysuru All India Conference a memorable one. CHQ heartily congratulates the leaders of Karnataka circle union, Mysuru district union and the entire BSNLEU members of Karnataka circle, as well as the well – wishers, for making the Mysuru All India Conference memorable for a long time to come.

The BSNL Management has introduced Group Term Insurance (GTI) for the Executives working in BSNL. In the 37th meeting of the National Council, held on 20th November, 2018, the Staff Side demanded the Management to extend the GTI to the Non-Executives also, on par with the Executives. The Chairman of the National Council agreed with the demand and assured that the same would be implemented. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU and Com.Prakash Sharma, AGS, BSNLEU, met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) yesterday and discussed this issue and enquired about the implementation of the GTI for the Non-executives. The GM(SR) informed the Union representatives that the process of implementing the GTI to the Executives is almost complete and  stated that now the Management would arrange a meeting of the Staff Side, Management and the SBI Life Insurance, to finalise the terms and conditions for the Non-Executives. He further requested the Staff Side to discuss the matter with the GM(Trg.) BSNL, Shri Ashutosh Gupta, for arrangement of the said meeting at the earliest.

Circle and district secretaries are requested to take last minute efforts to organise tomorrow's May Day rallies as "SAVE BSNL - SAVE NATION" rallies. Maximum efforts should be taken to organise the rallies successfully. Wherever possible, try to involve contract, casual workers and retired employees also in the rally. Please email the photos and report on bsnleuchq@gmail.com.

BSNLEU has once again created history, by recording 7^th consecutive victory in the elections held for granting recognition. This is a great victory, considering the attacks launched against BSNLEU, as well as conspiracies and betrayals against it. Vast majority of the BSNL employees have once again reposed faith on BSNLEU that, it is the only organisation which can protect BSNL and to safeguard the employees and their future. The leaders and cadres of BSNLEU, throughout the length and breadth of the country have, toiled for nearly 2 months to ensure BSNLEU’s victory. CHQ heartily congratulates all those comrades. Above all, BSNLEU sincerely thanks the employees for continuing to repose faith and confidence in the leadership of BSNLEU.

Airtel and Vodafone Idea have increased their call charge and data charge upto 45%. Similarly, Jio has announced increase in it’s tariffs by 40%. The increase in tariffs announced by all the three private operators is certainly a huge one. Now, BSNL should also increase it’s tariffs to match with the private operators tariffs. This will help BSNL to come out of the crisis. It may be recollected that on many occasions in the past, BSNLEU has forecasted that tariffs will increase in the near future and thereby BSNL’s financial condition will also greatly improve.

At this juncture, BSNLEU wishes to inform all that, with the allotment of 4G spectrum and drastic increase in call and data charges, BSNL is likely to come out of it’s financial crisis soon. Hence, those employees who have opted for VRS, fearing about the future financial condition of BSNL, can very well withdraw their VRS options.  

The recent media reports on the performance of Indian economy are disturbing. The economy is not showing any sign of improvement, but is deteriorating further. India’s crude steel production has fallen by 3% in January, 2020. Automobile sales continue to decline, with Maruti Susuki sales falling by 2% in February, 2020. Suresh Pal, eminent agricultural economist and director of ICAR has told that, India’s growth in agriculture has declined from 5% to 3%. All these are happening despite Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, gifting Rs.2.15 lakh crores, as tax concessions to the big corporates.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said he believed that it was not necessary to impose hardships on government employees and armed forces by freezing Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief hike till July 2021. “I sincerely believe it is not necessary at this stage to impose hardships on government servants and also on the armed forces people,” news agency ANI quoted former PM Dr Manmohan Singh as saying on the Centre’s decision to freeze Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief hike till July 2021.

[ Courtesy : Financial Express online dt. 25-04-2020]

Com.K.G. Bose is the revolutionary leader, who changed the course of the entire Postal and Telecommunications trade union movements.  He changed the concept that, trade unions should only fight for the economic demands of the employees and should not fight against the policies of the government. Com.K.G.Bose showed the path that, if the policies of the government are against the interests of the working class, then those policies should be fought against tooth and nail and should be defeated.  Com.Moni Bose, Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri and the thousands of leaders who gave birth to BSNLEU are the comrades, greatly inspired by the revolutionary ideas of Com.K.G. Bose. BSNLEU is marching ahead in the path shown by Com.K.G.Bose and is relentlessly fighting against the  pro-corporate and anti-worker policies of the government.

Corporate Office issues letter, authrising the Chief General Managers to ensure the sanctioning of Special Casual Leave to the Central Executive Committee members of BSNLEU, for the online CEC meeting to be held on 10th & 11th September, 2020.

Kolkata is hosting the two day Annual Meeting of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and the ten Trade Union Internationals(TUIs) affiliated to the WFTU. The venue of this International Meet is Hotel "Pride Plaza". Office bearers of the WFTU, as well as that of all the ten TUIs, who have come from various parts of the world, are participating in a this session. Com.K.Hemalata, President,CITU and Member of the Presidential Council of the WFTU, welcomed all on behalf of the Reception Committee. Com.George Mavricos, General Secretary,WFTU, delivered an inspiring inaugural speech. This session will continue today and tomorrow. An open session will be held tomorrow, which will be addressed by Com.George Mavricos,GS,WFTU and Com.Tapan Sen,GS,CITU. It is a privilege for BSNLEU that, the Union is a part of the Reception Committee of this International Event. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS and com.Animesh Mitra, vice-president (CHQ) are attending this session as observers.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Ramesh Chand, Org. Secretary (CHQ), had meeting with Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, yesterday and discussed the following issues:-

1. On damaging of BSNL’s cables.

The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to take necessary steps to stop the extensive damages being caused to BSNL’s optic fibre cables, as well as copper cables. They pointed out that the cables of private operators are not being damaged the way in which BSNL’s cables are being damaged. It was also pointed out that the authorities at the circle and district levels should take sufficient precautionary steps, to stop our cables being damaged, and also immediate criminal proceedings should be initiated whenever our cables are damaged. The CMD BSNL assured that needful action would be taken.  

2. Short supply in FTTH equipments / materials.

The Union representatives pointed out that there is very good demand for BSNL’s FTTH connections from the public, whereas BSNL is not able to provide the connections on time, due to acute short supply of equipments, such as 12 volt battery, UPS, Splitters (1×2) and (1×4), etc. The CMD BSNL assured that needful action would be taken to overcome the short supply.

3.  Representation for BSNLEU in Pension and Gratuity Fund Trusts.

The Union representatives regretfully pointed out that BSNLEU, which is the largest trade union organisation of the employees in BSNL, has not been provided with representation in the Pension and Gratuity Fund Trusts. They also told that no action has been taken, even after the attention of the Management has already been drawn in this regard, many months ago. The CMD BSNL assured to look into this and to take necessary steps.

BSNLEU observed the 8^th death anniversary of our beloved leader, Com. Moni Bose today, by organising a memorable educative programme at New Delhi. In the programme, organised in K.G.Bose Bhawan, two intellectuals, viz., Dr. Prabhir Purkayasta of Delhi Science Forum and Dr.Satyaki Roy of Institute of Studies for Industrial Development, delivered lectures on Neo-liberal Policies and Communal Harmony. Com.Sushmita, daughter of Com.Moni Bose, greeted the function and briefly shared her memories about Com.Moni Bose. 65 selected leaders and comrades from the Northern circles, took part in this educative programme. Com. R.K.Mishra, CS, UP(East) and Com.Ashok Pareek,CS, Rajasthan, presided over the morning and afternoon sessions, respectively. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, welcomed everyone and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the introductory speech. All the participants expressed their appreciation to the CHQ, for organising such a memorable programme.

The AUAB has already complained about the lavish expenditures being incurred by the top officers of the Company. A copy of this complaint has been sent to the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary in the PMO and to the Secretary, DoT. The AUAB has strongly demanded the CMD BSNL to implement ‘Austerity Measures’ in respect of the top officers of the Company. The AUAB will continue to fight on this issue, to protect the interests of BSNL.

The Mysuru All India Conference has taken a historic decision to strengthen working class unity. This is the time when greater unity has to be built to settle the wage revision, pension revision and to safeguard BSNL from the attacks of the government. Revival of BSNL is our historic task. Without unity, we cannot achieve all these. This is not the time to quarrel among us on petty issues. This is not the time to test who is bigger and who is smaller. Particularly, the unity of the two recognised unions- BSNLEU and NFTE- is the need of the hour. The Mysuru All India Conference deeply deliberated this. Finally, the Conference decided to get the Recognition Rule modified, to strengthen unity. As per the Non- Executives’ Recognition Rules, if the first union gets 50% votes or more, than the second union will not get recognition. The Mysuru All India Conference has unanimously passed a resolution, demanding that this clause should be removed. We are hopeful that this will pave the way for closer coordination and understanding between the BSNLEU and NFTE- the two major trade unions of BSNL

Leaders of the AUAB, Gulbarga, Karnataka circle met Shri Mallikarjuna Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament and have presented the memorandum. The leaders have explained the demands contained in the Memorandum to Shri Kharge. Thanks and hearty congrats to the AUAB, Gulbarga.

Ms.Sujata Ray, Director (HR), is retiring on superannuation today. She is retiring with the distinction of "the longest served Director (HR)". During her tenure, Ms.Sujata Ray has settled many outstanding HR issues, like implementation of government orders on "lesser standard of evaluation" to SC/ST employees, Compassionate Ground Appointment on priority basis, to the wards of the employees killed in accident while on duty, implementation of the mobile tariff plan to the Non-Executives with unlimited free voice calls and 1 GB data per day, etc. The Staff Side of the National Council conducted a felicitation for her in the National Council meeting held yesterday. BSNLEU wishes a very happy, peaceful and long retired life to Ms.Sujata Ray.

The next meeting of the AUAB will be held on 01^st August, 2019. This will be a crucial meeting, since it will have to take important decisions in respect of BSNL’s financial revival. The meeting will also decide about AUAB’s future course of action on important issues.