Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS and Com.Animesh Mitra, President & SG, BSNLCCWF, met Shri P.C.Bhat, Sr.GM(CBB) today and conducted detailed discussion about the issue of non-payment of wages to contract workers. The representatives told the Sr.GM(CBB) that wages are not paid since January,2019 and that recently a small amount was allotted and that too only for House Keeping. The Sr.GM(CBB) replied that Rs.24 crore has been allotted for House Keeping and Rs.48 crore has been allotted for Repairs and Maintenance, since 01-05-2019. The representatives pointed out that no fund is allotted to West Bengal and Jharkhand circles. They requested the GM(CBB) to ensure allotment of sufficient funds, so that the outstanding wages are cleared without further delay. However, the Sr.GM(CBB) pointed out that there is absolutely no cash flow, but assured  that he would try his best to release the funds as early as possible.

An energetic Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Bihar circle was held at Patna today. Com.M.K. Singh, Circle President, presided over. Com.B.P. Singh, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and spoke briefly about the forthcoming Membership Verification. Addressing the meeting, Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, elaborately explained about BSNL’s present position, alternative proposals for the revival of the Company, as well as about the role of the unions and associations. He also explained as to how BSNL’s valuable lands are being transferred to the SPV at throw-away price. The General Secretary also answered questions that came forward in the deliberations of the branch secretaries.

A meeting of the unions and associations was held at New Delhi, yesterday the 07-10-2019.  General Secretaries / representatives of BSNLEU, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, FNTO, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM and BSNL OA attended the meeting. Com. K. Sebastin,GS, SNEA, presided over. The meeting reviewed the issues of non-payment of salary to the employees for the month of September, non-payment of wages of the contract workers / electricity bills, as well as the issue of revival of BSNL. The meeting resolved that there is a pressing need for intensifying the struggle, without delay. Various options for struggles / campaign were discussed. Finally, it was decided to announce the next course of action on 11-10-2019, after discussing with the other unions and associations.

India has got the dubious credit of being the global leader in internet shutdowns. 67% of world’s internet shutdowns were made in India. In this year alone, internet shutdowns have been made for 95 times in India. Government shutdown internet service whenever protests take place against governments policies or actions. Presently, internet shutting down has been ordered in places where protests are taking place against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Today is the "Martyrdom Day" of comrades Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. BSNLEU pays it's respectful homage to these great heroes of Indian freedom struggle and conveys revolutionary greetings to all the comrades. BSNLEU resolves to follow their footsteps, in the fight against all injustices.

The AUAB representatives of BSNL Puducherry, met Shri Gokulakrishnan, Rajya Sabha Member from Puducherry and submitted the memorandum. Shri Gokulakrishnan, gave a patient hearing to the AUAB representatives and assured to make necessary intervention.

National Coordination Committee of Pensioners’ Association of Central Government Employees in which AIBDPA is also a constituent has arranged a Mass Dharna on 25.10.2017 at Delhi on 10 point Charter of Demands of the Central Government Pensioners. Since, permission was not given to hold the Dharna at Jantar Mantar, it was shifted to Meghdoot Bhawan, Jhandewalan. The meeting was presided over by Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, President of NCCPA. Com. K.K.N. Kutty, General Secretary, NCCPA welcome all. The dharna was inaugurated by com. Tapan Sen, MP & General Secretary, CITU. The meeting was addressed by com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, Advisor, NCCPA, M.S. Raja, President, Confederation of Central Government Employees and others. On be half of the BSNLEU, com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, addressed the meeting and briefed about the wage revision of BSNL employees and on revision of pension from 1^st January, 2017.

The two monthly magazines being run by BSNLEU, viz., Tele Crusader (English) and BSNL SWAR (Hindi) are playing an important role in educating the employees on the wrong policies of the government, and on various happenings within India and at the international level, which are connected with the working class movement. CHQ is taking much care, to publish these two magazines in manner, so that they are very useful to the workers. Our Union stands benefited to a great extent from these journals.  This is understood from the high quality of debate, made by the delegates in the last All India Conference. Apart from time and energy, CHQ is also spending a lot of money on these magazines. CHQ has decided to improve these magazines, if required, by spending more money also. A large number of employees have since retired. And also 16,000 employees are retiring every year, out of which, a major portion is the Non-Executives. Thus, certainly, the number of copies need to be printed, has also come down. Hence, CHQ wants to know the exact number of copies of Tele Crusader and BSNL Swar, required by each one of our branches. Further, every month, a number of magazine bundles despatched to the branches, are being returned to the CHQ. This may be due to the reason that the addresses are not updated, or due to the merger of branch unions, with the nearby branches, due to the fast phase of retirements. In view of this, CHQ is urgently in need of the following information, to streamline the publishing of our magazines. 

1)   The number of copies of Tele Crusader / BSNL Swar, actually required by each branch in a district. Number of members in the branch may also be mentioned.

2)    An updated mailing address of all the branch secretaries in each district.

3)   Details of the branch unions, merged with nearby branches, due to the fast phase of retirements. 

All district secretaries are requested to send these information within two weeks, to their respective circle unions. Circle unions are requested to collect these information from all the districts of their circle, and to send it to the CHQ, by the end of February. Let us ensure that each paisa that we spend on our magazines, is spent usefully.

CHQ has received the district wise break-up figures of quota received for the years 2016 & 2017, from J&K and NTR Delhi circles. Based on this, the number of delegates eligible to each of the district of these circles is enclosed.

There is no doubt that the world will laugh at India, for the speeches made by some so called scientists, in the 106^th session of the Indian Science Congress, held at Jalandhar last Friday. G. Nageswara Rao, the Vice Chancellor of Andhra University has stated in this Congress that, Kauravas of Mahabharata were born using stem cell technology. He has also told that Ravana of Ramayana used 24 types of aircrafts and that Srilanka had airports during the time of Ravana.

Another scientist, by name K.J. Krishnan has stated in the Conference that the theories of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein were wrong and would be disapproved. He has also told that “Gravitational Waves” would soon be renamed “Narendra Modi Waves” and that “Gravitational Lensing Effect” would be renamed as “Harsh Vardhan Effect”.        

What these so called scientists have spoken last Friday, is nothing but the continuation of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke a view years back in a Mumbai Congress. Narendra Modi spoke that Lord Ganesha was created through plastic surgery.  G. Nageswara Rao and K.J. Krishnan are only following the Prime Minister of the country. We do not know where the country is going.

The representatives of the AUAB met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today at 10:30 am. Ms.Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) was also present. The AUAB demanded that the salary for the month of February, 2019, should be paid before the Holi festival. The CMD BSNL explained the present financial position of the Company briefly, and assured that payment of salary would be made by 20^th March, 2019.

BSNL में जमीन घोटाले को रोकिए- BSNLEU ने सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम को लिखा...
BSNLEU यह जान कर बेहद विचलित है कि रिवाइवल पैकेज के नाम पर BSNL के बेशकीमती लैंड पार्सल्स स्पेशल परपज वेहिकल (SPV) को स्थान्तरित  किए जा रहे हैं। इसके बदले में ये लैंड पार्सल्स SPV द्वारा नाममात्र मूल्य पर कॉर्पोरेट उद्यमियों को सौंप दिए जाएंगे। BSNLEU के अनुसार यह एक बहुत बड़ा जमीन घोटाला है। BSNLEU ने BSNL में इस   घोटाले को रोकने के लिए शीघ्र हस्तक्षेप की मांग करते हुए सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम को लिखा है।

कल दिनांक 07-10-2019 को सम्पन्न यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स की मीटिंग में लिए गए निर्णय...
कल दिनांक 07-10-2019 को नई दिल्ली में यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स की मीटिंग हुई। मीटिंग में BSNLEU, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, FNTO, BSNL MS, AIBSNLOA, BSNL ATM और BSNL OA के महासचिव/ प्रतिनिधि उपस्थित थे। कॉम के. सेबेस्टिन, GS, SNEA ने अध्यक्षता की। मीटिंग में, कर्मचारियों को सितंबर 2019 के वेतन का भुगतान, कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स के वेजेस और इलेक्ट्रिसिटी बिल का भुगतान जैसे मुद्दों के साथ साथ बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल के मुद्दों की समीक्षा की गई। मीटिंग में प्रस्तावित किया गया कि अब अविलंब आंदोलन को तीव्र करने की जरूरत है। आंदोलन/ कैंपेन करने के विभिन्न तरीकों पर विचार विमर्श हुआ। अंत में यह तय किया गया कि इस पर अन्य यूनियन्स व एसोसिएशन्स से चर्चा पश्चात 11.10.2019 को आगामी रूपरेखा घोषित की जाएगी।

Widespread protests are taking place throughout the country, demanding the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has questioned which Indian Citizen, who is a Muslim, is affected by the CAA. It is sad that the Prime Minister is diverting the issue. The problem in the CAA is that, for the first time, the citizenship of our country will be determined based on religion. This has never happened before. Mahatma Gandhi said that India belongs to the people of all religions and not to the people of any particular religion. And that is the reason why he was killed. The demand that the CAA should be withdrawn is justified and the government and the ruling party should review their stand.

Corporate Office has allotted funds to the circles, for the payment of salary for the month of February, 2020. It may be recollected that in the meeting held with the CMD BSNL on 18-03-2020, the Recognised Unions and Associations insisted for salary payment on time. Thereafter, BSNLEU wrote a letter to the CMD BSNL on 20-03-2020, demanding to take action for timely payment of salary.

The AUAB of Tirupur, submitted memorandum  to  Shri  S.R. Balasubramaniam, Rajya Sabha member. The meeting took place at the residence of Shri S.R. Balasubramaniam, MP, at Palladam. The representatives of the AUAB explained the present condition of BSNL and sought his intervention for it’s Revival. The MP assured to do the needful in this regard.

Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Ramesh Chand Sharma, Org. Secretary, met Ms. Anima Roy, GM (Estt. & Rectt.), BSNL CO on 25.10.2017 and discussed on the following issues:-

1. Change of cut off date from 1^st July, 2016 to 1^st July, 2017 for eligibility of 5 years service for the JE LICE 50% to be held on 28.01.2018. 

The union representative handed over the letter from the union addressed to the Management for change of cut off date from 1^st July, 2016 to 1^st July, 2017 to determine 5 years service eligibility condition to appear the JE LICE 50% to be held on 28.01.2018 and demanded that since the vacancies upto 31^st March, 2017 are taken into account for the aforesaid examination, the cut off date should also be changed to allow candidates who are completing 5 years service on 1^st July, 2017 to appear the exam. The GM informed that as per provisions cut off date would be 1^st July of the particular financial year for determining the service conditions and as such 1^st July, 2016 is fixed for the said exam. The union representatives informed the GM that since the TM exams in earlier days were not conducted in time, a good number of candidates are not having 5 years of service conditions as on 1^st July, 2016 but would be eligible if the cut off date is changed to 1^st July, 2017. Considering that a large number of vacancies are available in the departmental quota for JE, where as a very few officials are available to appear the exam. After a detailed discussion, the GM assured to look into the matter.

2. To modify the condition of qualifying marks for SC/ST candidates from 20% to 20% for SC and 15% for ST and to delete 30% aggregate marks for the forthcoming JE LICE 50% notification.

The union representatives informed the GM that the earlier conditions of qualifying marks for SC/ST candidates 20% and 30% in aggregate is modified in 2016 where the aggregate marks condition is withdrawn and after the 35^th National Council, the conditions for qualifying marks are further reduced to 20% for SC and 15% for ST candidates, hence the notification should be modified. The GM is assured to examine the matter.

3. Settlement of pay aberrations of the seniors to that of the juniors in Non-Executive cadres consequence to conversion of CDA to IDA pay scale from 1.10.2000.

The union representatives informed the GM (Estt.) that they have informed from the Establishment Section of DoT that the issue of pay aberrations of the seniors with the juniors in Non-Executive cadres due to conversion of CDA to IDA pay from 01.10.2000, which was forwarded to DoT by BSNL is returned to BSNL to give the details of financial implications in this matter. The GM confirmed that the matter and informed the union representatives that the Establishment Section would collect informations from the circles on financial implications in that matter and will reply to DoT. The union representatives made request to the GM that since the is lingering for last 16 years and most of the affected seniors are already retired, the Management should not merely writes to the circle to give the above cited informations, which may further delay in settlement of the long pending issue. Therefore, the BSNL Management may take up the issue with the DoT alongwith informations available with BSNL Corporate Office instead of waiting for informations from the circles. The GM (Estt.), after hearing the details from the union representatives, assured that she will personally discuss the matter with the DDG (Estt.), DoT and will see what best can be done at the earliest.

The BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF), is organising a March to the Parliament on 22^nd February, 2017, to highlight the demands of the casual and contract workers. BSNLEU always remains in the forefront, in fighting against the injustices being meted out to the casual and contract workers. The 8^th All India Conference of BSNLEU, held at Chennai, has given a call to the regular workers also to massively participate in this rally, and raise their voices in support of the demands of the casual and contract workers. The CHQ of BSNLEU has called upon the circle unions of BSNLEU, nearer to Delhi, to take special efforts to mobilise maximum number of regular employees in the rally. Let us make the March to Parliament a grand success.