The BSNL Management issued letter on 02-07-2019, banning demonstrations, dharna, etc., till the completion of the 8th Membership Verification. BSNL Management had also threatened in that letter, that any union organising demonstrations, dharna, etc., would be debarred from participating in the 8th Membership Verification. This is a serious attack on the trade union rights in BSNL. Hence, BSNLEU filed a writ petition in the Hon'ble Madras High Court. On hearing our arguments, the Hon'ble High Court granted interim stay to the BSNL Corporate Office's letter dated 02-07-2019. Thereafter, the stay was extended up to 26-08-2019. In the mean while, the BSNL Management filed it's petition to vacate the stay. The efforts of BSNL management to vacate the stay became futile. The Interim Stay granted earlier has been further extended until 12-09-2019. This is a severe blow to the BSNL Management's autocratic methods to curb trade union rights in BSNL. It is also a great victory to BSNLEU, in it's struggle to uphold trade union rights.

The CHQ is receiving many queries about the non-remittance of the deductions made from employees’ salaries, to the concerned organisations, by the BSNL Management. As a result of this, employees are facing extreme hardships, like non-getting of GPF and society loans. In this regard, we wish to inform that, recently the CHQ has written a strong letter to the CMD BSNL, and the matter was also discussed with the CMD BSNL and the Director (HR) on 17.10.2019, with utmost seriousness. Further, BSNLEU has also written to the CMD BSNL, requesting him to write to the LIC Chairman, for condoning the delay in remittance of LIC premium amount, so that the policy holders will not become defaulters. BSNLEU has also sought of the help of AIIEA (All India Insurance Employees Association) in this regard.

कल, 07.01.2020 को रैलीज, मानव श्रृंखला आयोजित करें...
ऑल इंडिया सेंटर द्वारा निर्णय लिया गया है कि  08.01.2020 की आम हड़ताल में शामिल करने हेतु कर्मचारियों को संगठित करने के लिए देश भर में 07.01.2020 को रैलीज, मानव श्रृंखला आयोजित की जाए। इसकी सूचना सभी को पूर्व में दी जा चुकी है। CHQ सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स का कल रैलीज, मानव श्रृंखला सफलता पूर्वक आयोजित करने का आव्हान करता है। 

10 Central Trade Unions have written to the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), at Geneva, on 25.05.2020, raising a complaint on the violation of Labour Laws in India. As we have already informed the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar and Assam have already increased the working hours beyond 8 hours a day. Further, many states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, etc., have suspended various labour laws. All these steps are being taken, to help the employers, especially the corporates, to enable them to come out of the financial crisis created due to the COVID-19. The workers are being converted into slaves in all the above mentioned states, for the benefit of the employers and corporates. All these are being done at behest of the Narendra Modi led Central Government. Hence, the Central Trade Unions have sought the intervention of the ILO, to ensure that the labour laws, up held by the ILO, are not trampled in India. These Central Trade Unions are as follows:-

INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCT, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC.

CHQ is extremely saddened to hear that, Com.Seethalakshmi, former General Secretary of the All India Postman and Class-IV Union (NFPE), has passed away on 01^st August, 2020, at her residence in Bengaluru. Only very recently she was diagnosed to be having cancer.  As we remember, Com.Seethalakshmi is the only woman comrade, who had reached the highest post of the General Secretary of an all India union, in the P&T Trade Union movement. Even when many male comrades hesitate to leave their native places and to come over to work in the union head-quarters at Delhi, Com.Seethalakshmi boldly took over the post of the General Secretary and shifted to New Delhi. She was a great friend and well wisher of BSNLEU. She also addressed and graced our Mysuru All India Conference, held in December, 2018. Com. Seetha Lakshmi had also served as the Deputy General Secretary of the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and had taken active part in the Central Government employees, as well as in the general trade union movement. In the death of Com.Seethalakshmi, we have lost an ardent crusader for the cause of the working class. BSNLEU dips it’s banner and pays it’s respectful homage to Com.Seethalakshmi. BSNLEU also conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to the family members and friends of Com.Seethalakshmi.

Immediately after the strike, the CHQ requested the circle secretaries to immediately send the strike figures. However, it is observed that still some of the circle unions have not submitted their report with the strike figures. CHQ requests those circle secretaries to immediately send the report.

The “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” are meeting Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow. Wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, rolling back of the retirement age from 60 to 58 and revision of pension issues will be discussed prominently.

The past few months, the amounts being deducted from the salaries of our employees, are not being remitted to the concerned organisations / agencies. These include deductions on account of GPF, bank loans, society dues, HBA, EPF, LIC, income tax, PLI, etc. Due to the non-remittance of the deducted amounts to the various organisations / agencies, the employees are being forced to pay penal interest. BSNLEU has already discussed this issue with the CMD BSNL. Again BSNLEU has written to the CMD on this issue.

A meeting of the Recognised Unions and Management on Group Term Insurance (GTI) was held on 25.03.2019. From Management Side, Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM (Trg.) and Shri Goyal, DGM(Trg.), were present. BSNLEU was represented by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.Gakul Borah, Treasruer (CHQ). NFTE BSNL was represented by Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS and Com.Islamn Ahmed, President. At the outset the Management given the following informations to the Recognised Unions. 

1. The LIC who has made GTI facility to Executives is ready to give the same insurance benefits to the Non-Executives and it has suggested that the sum assured of insurance can be kept at Rs.20 lakh for Non-Executives, which is within the preview of the Regional Office at New Delhi.
2. If the insurance amount will be more than 20 lakh it may take long time since, it is to be processed by the LIC Head Quarter at Mumbai.
3. The insurance in any case should restricted to 5 times of salary of an employee. Hence, the Non-Executives insured amount can be Rs.20 lakh approx.
4. Since mortality rate is higher in case of Non-Executives, GTI may not be more than of Rs.20 lakh.
5. If the terms and conditions of the GTI for Non-Executives is keeping at par with the Executive policy it may take less time for signing the agreement.
6. According to Executive GTI policy, it is categorised in two groups of employees – i.e, (a) upto 50 years of age and (b)from 50 to 60 years.
7. No saving benefits will be available in GTI.
8. The premium should be in annual basis.

The representatives of the Recognised Unions expressed that they will discussed the matter in their respective levels and will come up with their suggestions / proposals within a short time.

It is interesting to note that the government is moving the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to debar two companies which are engaged by the BSNL Management in the past, for the revival of BSNL. One is Deloitte and the other is BSR, which is an arm of the KPMG. Both, Deloitte and BSR, had earlier acted as auditors of the Infrastructure leasing and Finance Services (IL& FS). A massive corruption of Rs.95,000 crore has taken place in IL&FS, as a result of which that company has collapsed now. The Corporate Affairs Ministry has alleged that both the Deloitte and BSR (KPMG) have helped in the commitment of Rs. 95,000 crore. Based on the recommendations of Deloitte and KPMG, BSNL Management had taken many steps for the revival of BSNL. Now, all can understand what sort of advise/ recommendations could have been given by these two companies, for the revival of BSNL.

[Source: Times of India dt. 11.06.2019]  

Com.Animesh Mitra, President, addressed a well attended meeting at Durgabpur on 25.08.2019. It was a well attended meeting, even though it was a Sunday. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, addressed the meeting and explained about the financial revival of BSNL as well as the achievements of BSNLEU since the last Membership Verification.

As per notice given by the BSNLEU, the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, Shri Raj Bahadur, invited BSNLEU to attend the conciliation on 6th January, 2020. BSNLEU was represented by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Management Side was represented by Shri A.K. Sinha, DGM(SR). The representative of the Union submitted view points from the Union. Finally, RLC requested the Union to hold the agitation in a peaceful manner.

The ILO (International Labour Organisation) has appealed to the Prime Minister of India to intervene in the violations of Labour Laws in the country. In the letter addressed on 22^nd May, 2020, to the 10 Central Trade Unions of India, the ILO has informed that, the Prime Minister of India has been appealed to send a clear message to the central and state governments, regarding the violation of Labour Laws. In it’s letter, the ILO has requested the Prime Minister, to up hold India’s international commitments. This letter has been written by Mr. Karen Curtis, Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch of the ILO, on behalf of the Director General of the ILO.

In today’s National Council meeting, com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU & Secretary, Staff Side, demanded in his initial remarks that the Management should implement Plan Rs.429/- to the Non-Executives, in the place of Rs.200/- SIM. As per plan Rs.429/-, unlimited voice calls and 1 GB data per day are being given for a period of 3 months. The Director (HR), who is the Chairperson of the National Council accepted this demand.

A meeting of the “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” has been scheduled to be held at 3:30 PM tomorrow. However, this meeting has been postponed, in view of the meeting to be held with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow.

The All Unioins and Associations of  BSNL Karnataka Circle organised a fantastic candle light demonstration,  in front of Town Hall, Bengaluru on the evening of 19th April 2018. Permission was not granted for March to Raj Bhawan, in view of the election code of discipline.  The Governor and ADC did not give appointment, hence the memorandum was submitted in the Governor's office.