At the behest of the Narendra Modi government, many state governments are changing the Labour Laws, to increase the working hours from 8 hours a day to 12 hours a day. Reacting to this, the Chairman of WIPRO, Azim Premji, has stated that the Labour Laws have been changed many times over the past few decades. Diluting these laws further, will not boost economic activities but will only worsen conditions of the low wage earners and the poor. Referring to the recent Aurangabad tragedy, wherein 16 migrant workers, sleeping on the railway tracks were run over by a goods train, Azim Premji has stated that, it is an unforgivable tragedy which indicates the tremendous misery being faced by the weakest and poorest in the country. Whether these views of Azim Premji, who is a corporate, will open eyes of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who, before becoming the prime minister, had vowed to remove the hardships of the poor? Read the full article of Azim Premji, given below, published in the Economic Times dated 16.05.2020.

As per the call of the AUAB, the comrades of the AUAB of Barabanki, UP(East) circle submitted the memorandum to Shri Upendra Singh Rawat, MP from Barabanki and explained the situation prevailing in BSNL regarding 4G and revival issues. Shri Upendra Singh Rawat assured to do the needful.

BSNLEU started it's 2 day Central Executive Committee meeting at New Delhi, today. Com.Balbir Singh, President, is presiding. Com.Swapan Chakraborty,Dy.GS, welcomed every one. Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, vice-president, CITU, inaugurated the meeting with an inspiring and informative speech. The meeting was greeted by com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, former general secretary. Com.Gundanna, CS, Karnataka, who was recently conferred with the Karnataka state Rajyotsava Award, was honoured in the meeting. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, offered him the shawl and com.A.K.Padmanabhan, presented the memento. The subjects committee started with a detailed presentation of the report, by com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary. Deliberation by the CEC members is going on.

The call given by the "All Unions and Associations of BSNL" for submission of memorandum to the MPs, has been well responded by our comrades. It is very encouraging to note that our comrades have shown keen interest in meeting the MPs and also explaining about the wage revision and Subsidiary Tower Company issues. Explaining these issues to the elected representatives of the people, will have a big impact in the settlement of the issues. CHQ salutes all the comrades who have completed this task. At the same time, submission of memorandum to the entire MPs, is our target. Hence, CHQ calls upon the comrades to expeditiously submit the memorandum to the left out MPs also.

Reports are pouring in from various parts of the country, regarding the Satyagraha struggle that has started today. The BSNL Non-Executives and Executives are expressing their deepest anger and protest against denial of Wage Revision and attempts of the government to kill BSNL.

The Circle Conference of NTR circle is being held at CTO, Sabhaghar, Eastern Court today. A large number of members, as well as pensioners attended the Conference. Com.R.S.Chauhan, circle secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.T.C.Nagar, circle president, presided over. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. In his speech, the General Secretary severely criticised the pro-private policies of the government. Further, he explained about the status of major issues like Wage Revision, subsidiary Tower Company, Pension Revision,etc. The General Secretary also explained the decisions taken in the recently held Agartala CEC meeting. The Conference was also addressed by Com.Animesh Mitra, Vice-President(CHQ) and Com.Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary(CHQ). After lunch, the subjects committee started and is going on.

Rains and floods, that were not witnessed during the past 100 years, have devastated Kerala. Similar calamities are taking place in many parts of the world. Even a high school boy will tell that, this is happening due to Global Warming. However, S.Gurumurthy, an RSS ideologue and who is recently appointed as a Director of the Reserve Bank’s Board, has stated that Lord Ayyappa’s anger has caused the Kerala floods. The Supreme Court of India is hearing a petition, wherein the prayer is to allow women in the menstruating age group into the Sabarimala Temple. Judgment is yet to be delivered in this case. According to S.Gurumurthy, Lord Ayyappa does not want the women in the menstruating age group to enter his temple, and that he is angry because of the court case, and that is why floods are taking place in Kerala. On one side, the government raises the slogan of “beti bachao – beti padhao”. On the other side, people like S.Gurumurthy openly make statements discriminating women.

After yesterday’s discussion with Secretary, Telecom, the AUAB, in it’s review meeting, came to the conclusion that the progress made in the matter of wage revision is not satisfactory. Hence, it is decided to go ahead with the agitational programme, and to effectively organise rallies at Corporate Office, Circle and District levels on 14.11.2018. Circle and district unions are requested to closely coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to take maximum efforts to organise the rallies. Flex boards and placards should be prepared in sufficient numbers for the rallies, for effectively conveying our message to the public during the rallies.

Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today and discussed the following issues.

 
(1)    Amendment to the Non-Executives’ Recognition Rules.

The Union representatives apprised the CMD BSNL that the Mysuru All India Conference of BSNLEU, has passed a resolution demanding removal of the clause of the Non-Executives’ Recognition Rules, which stipulates that no second Union would be recognised, if the first Union gets 50% or more votes. The CMD BSNL appreciated the decision of BSNLEU and assured to positively look into it.

 
(2)   Eligibility to the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000, for promotion under NEPP.

Court had already ordered that the 1st promotion under NEPP should be granted on completion of four years to the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. However, BSNL is yet to implement this court order to all the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU demanded that this court order should be implemented in respect of all the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. The CMD BSNL assured to take the needful action.

(3)   Non-allotment of funds to the circles by the Corporate Office.

The representatives pointed out that the inordinate delay in the allotment of funds to the circles, by the Corporate Office, has resulted in suffering to the employees in various ways. They pointed out that, the EMI amount for bank loans, employee contribution of EPF, etc., deducted from the salaries of employees, are not being remitted to the concerned organisations by BSNL on time, as a result of which employees are made to pay penal interests. The CMD BSNL replied that all EMI amounts as well as employee contribution of EPF, have been remitted to the respective organisations upto December, 2018. The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to ensure that employees are not made to pay penal interest on account of delay on the part of BSNL Management.

    
(4)   Amendments to the JAO RR.

The representatives brought to the notice of the CMD BSNL that certain pressing amendments to the JAO Recruitment Rules, demanded by BSNLEU, are still not implemented by BSNL, since the same are awaiting approval of the BSNL Board. The representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to clear these amendments in the next Board meeting. The CMD BSNL responded positively.

(5)   Non-disposal of Kerala flood relief fund.

Deductions have already been made from the salary of BSNL employees, towards Kerala flood relief fund. The unions and associations of BSNL wanted these funds to be handed over to the Kerala Chief Minister, by the CMD BSNL. The BSNL Management has sought the approval of DoT in this regard. So far the amount has not been spent for the purpose it was collected. This issue was raised in today’s meeting and the CMD BSNL replied that the DoT has referred the matter to the PMO. The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to ensure early payment of the amount to the affected people of Kerala.

It is very unfortunate that the Reliance Jio is being given the status of Government Service Provider, while the Public Sector BSNL is being neglected. Already, the mobile / landline connections of the Indian Railways have gone to Reliance Jio. Now, the government has entrusted the job of providing MPLS–VPN and SD-VAN networks in all the airports, to Reliance Jio. If things go like this, days are not far away, when the entire telephone connections of the government will be taken from Reliance Jio.

The AUAB has learnt reliably that the BSNL Board of Directors meeting is going to be held tomorrow the 21.08.2019, in which they are going to give approval for reducing the retirement age of BSNL employees from 60 to 58. We have been hearing for the past few months, about the proposal of the government to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58. This is totally against the commitment given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, that government rule will be applicable so far as the retirement of BSNL employees is concerned. In view of this, we have to strongly protest the move of the BSNL Board to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58. Hence, the AUAB calls upon the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL to hold lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow to protest against the proposed move of the BSNL Board to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58..

A meeting was held between the AUAB and the BSNL Management at 10:00 am today. From the Management Side, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), Shri Sheethla Prasad, Director (CM) and Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR), were present. From the AUAB side, General Secretary / Representative of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, FNTO, BSNLMS, SNATTA, ATM BSNL, BSNL OA and TOA BSNL, participated in the meeting. In the meeting, issues contained in the charter of demands of the AUAB, for the hunger strike to be held on 18-10-2019, were discussed. The Management Side informed that, the Cabinet is likely to take a decision on the revival package of BSNL around 23rd of this month. They also expressed the hope that, once BSNL’s revival package is cleared by the Cabinet, banks will come forward to extend credit to BSNL and that will create a favourable situation for BSNL’s revival. Representatives of the AUAB expressed their extreme unhappiness over the non-payment of September, 2019, salary. Further, they also raised the issues related to the improving the quality of service, curbing expenditure and increasing the revenue collection of the Company. They emphatically told that the letters issued by the Corporate Office for the retrenchment of contract workers, as well as non-payment of their wages, are adversely affecting the operation and maintenance works. The Management Side assured that September salary would be paid on 23.10.2019 and requested to withdraw the hunger strike. The AUAB representatives told that the salary should be paid at least by 21.10.2019. Meanwhile, it was informed that the CMD would be meeting the AUAB at 03:00 pm and hence the meeting came to an end.

The IDA is reported to have increased by 5.3% w.e.f 01.01.2020. Accordingly, the total IDA from 01-01-2020 will be 157.3%.

1) Com. Manoj Sharma, DS, Ujjain - Rs.1,000/-

2) Com. S.C. Khapre, DS, WTP, MP - Rs.1,000/-

3) Com. S.C. Shrivastav, Bhopal – Rs.1,000/-

CHQ heartily congratulates all the above mentioned comrades.

It is the 10^th death anniversary of Com.Moni Bose today. It is already 10 years since he left us and the movement. However, the path shown by Com.Moni Bose, continues to guide BSNLEU, as a vibrant working class movement. BSNLEU continuous to fight against all injustices being meted out to the working class. Especially, at a time when the nation and the working masses are faced with formidable challenges, the leaders and front line functionaries of BSNLEU, continue to be inspired by Com. Moni Bose. On this occasion, BSNLEU pays it’s rich tributes and respectful homage to Com.Moni Bose.

सांसदों (MPs) को ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति में शिथिलता....

AUAB द्वारा BSNL की 4G सर्विस की शुरुआत में निर्मित की जा रही बाधाएं और BSNL रिवाइवल पैकेज में दिए गए आश्वासनों के क्रियान्वयन में किए जा रहे विलंब को हाईलाइट करते हुए, देश भर में सभी सांसदों को ज्ञापन देने का आव्हान किया गया है।

सांसदों (MPs) को ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति, BSNL के रिवाइवल और सर्वाइवल (पुनरुत्थान और जीवंतता) के पक्ष में जन समर्थन प्राप्त करने हेतु काफी अहम है। किन्तु, यह अत्यंत निराशाजनक है कि कुछ ही सर्कल्स यह कार्य कर रहे हैं। BSNL में सबसे बड़ी ट्रेड यूनियन होने के नाते, BSNLEU के सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज की MPs को ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति की कार्यवाही की जिम्मेदारी अधिक है। 

अतः, CHQ, BSNLEU के सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से अनुरोध करता है कि वें अपने अपने सर्किल/डिस्ट्रिक्ट में MPs को ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति का कार्य पूर्ण करने हेतु सक्रिय हो जाएं। ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति में शिथिलता के मद्दे नजर, AUAB द्वारा ज्ञापन प्रस्तुति की समयावधि बढ़ाने पर विचार किया जा रहा है। इस संबंध में लिए गए निर्णय की घोषणा कल की जा सकती है। 

Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed a huge gathering at CGM office, Tamil Nadu circle today. The General Secretary is in Chennai today, on his way to Ernakulam, to attend the circle conference of BSNLEU, Kerala circle. Utilising his visit, the General Secretary was invited to address the Satyagraha, being organised in the CGM office, Tamil Nadu circle. Com. Duraiarasan, CS, AIBSNLEA, presided over the meeting. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, spoke elaborately, and explained all the details connected with the charter of demands and the struggle. He asserted that we would settle Wage Revision and also will compel the government to roll back the Subsidiary Tower Company and other retrograde anti-BSNL and anti-employee measures. The General Secretary's speech was well received by the gathering.

BSNLEU writes to Shri A.M.Gupta, GM (SR) on 19-12-2017, pointing out that the discussion and decision taken in the National Council was not reflected in the minutes. The GM (SR) is urged to take action

The unions and associations of BSNL are considering about extending their helping hand, to the flood-affected people of Kerala. Consensus has emerged to donate one day’s basic pay to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund. This will be communicated to the Management.