The Indian working class is on a nationwide General Strike today, against the anti-worker Neo-Liberal Policies of the Narendra Modi government. BSNL employees are participating in this strike. BSNLEU salutes all the comrades participating in this Strike.

(1) Com. Gomathi Ananth, OS, BGTD - Rs.5,000/-

(2) Com. Eranna, DS, Davangere - Rs.2,500/-

(3) Com. Vasantha Madivala ADS Davangere - Rs. 2,500/-

(4) Com. Sundaresha. K. P., DS, Chikmaglur - Rs.2,000/-

The Indian telecom sector has lost 75,000 jobs in just one year. Major private telecom companies are facing a crisis after the entry of Reliance Jio. Many smaller telecom companies are getting closed down. Bigger companies like Vodafone and Idea have gone into loss, and are getting merged. Due to these closures and mergers, job loss is taking place in a big way. 75,000 jobs are already lost in just one year.

Many comrades have brought a media report to the notice of the CHQ. The report says that, the “Parliamentary Committee on Petitions” has recommended the merger of BSNL and MTNL, and that the report of the Committee is tabled in the Lok Sabha. As a matter of fact, this Parliamentary Committee on Petitions finalised this report in March 2017 itself. The recommendations of the Committee was already reported in the Economic Times dated 16-03-2017. Immediately, we have written to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, demanding the following steps to be taken urgently, before the government takes any final decision on the merger of BSNL and MTNL. We will not allow the merger of BSNL and MTNL to become a death trap for BSNL.

WE DEMAND THE FOLLOWING AS A PRECONDITION FOR THE MERGER OF BSNL AND MTNL.

MTNL should be delisted from the share market.

BSNL is not a listed company, with the government controlling 100% of it’s stake. At the same time, MTNL is listed in the share market, and 46.5% of it’s shares are already sold in the market. The BSNL employees are having a genuine apprehension in their minds that, the merger of BSNL and MTNL is being contemplated by the government, as a prelude to start disinvestment / strategic sale in BSNL. Under these circumstances, BSNL employees are strongly opposed to any merger of MTNL with BSNL. Hence, we demand that the government should delist MTNL first from the share market, before merger.

Government should take over the financial liability of MTNL.

MTNL is having a huge financial liability. It’s asset value is very less, compared to it’s financial liability. BSNL’s financial position is too fragile to absorb the huge financial liability that MTNL is having. Hence, it is demanded that the government should take over the entire financial liability of MTNL, before merger.

Government should provide financial assistance to BSNL to revamp the networks in MTNL areas.

MTNL has not made any investment in the recent years, to strengthen it’s networks. As a result, MTNL’s networks, both mobile and landline, are in shambles. If MTNL is merged with BSNL, the latter has to invest a huge amount, to revamp the networks. In the present situation, BSNL is not having the wherewithal to make such huge investment. As it was rightly pointed out by the then Hon’ble Minister of Communications, shri Ravi Shankar Prasad ji, BSNL was not allowed to procure equipments for it’s network expansions, during the UPA regime. Only for the past three years, BSNL has started making network expansions, and is heading towards profitability. Under these circumstances, BSNL cannot afford to make big investments to revamp the networks in MTNL areas. If sufficient revamping of MTNL’s networks is not done expeditiously, the merger will further weaken BSNL’s financial condition. Hence, it is demanded that the government should provide sufficient financial assistance to BSNL to revamp MTNL’s networks on a war foot measure.

Salary structure of the employees of BSNL and MTNL should be one on the same.

At present, the salary structures of employees of BSNL and MTNL are different. The pay scales of the MTNL employees are one step above. If both the companies are to be merged, then the salary structure of the employees of BSNL and MTNL should be made one and the same.

As per the call of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, the employees of BSNL are observing ‘Work According to Rule’ from 30.01.2018. This struggle was reviewed in the meeting of All Unions and Associations of BSNL, held yesterday the 06.02.2018, as well as in the Steering Committee meeting held today. After detailed discussion, it has been decided to observe Non-cooperation to NOFN and other government projects. This decision is taken in view of the fact that the DoT and the government have denied justice to BSNL employees in the matter of 3^rd Pay Revision, pension revision to BSNL retirees, forming the Subsidiary Tower Company, etc. Entire Non-Executives and Executives are requested to strictly observe this Non-cooperation, in addition to implementing the ‘Work According to Rule’ call. The All Unions and Associations of BSNL is writing to the Secretary, DoT and to the CMD BSNL, about the struggle of Non-cooperation to NOFN and other government projects.

The AUAB of Kolkata Telephones circle conducted March to Raj Bhawan yesterday and submitted memorandum to the Governor.  After submission of Memorandum, Com. Sisir Roy CS BSNLEU, Comrade Alok Nandi, CS, FNTO, Com. Sekhar Majumdar CS NFTE, Com. Subhasis Mitra CS AIBSNLEA and Com. Soumen Ghosh ACS, addressed the BSNL workers.

Former Cricket Star, Imran Khan, has recently assumed office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan. On last Friday, Imran Khan announced that first class Air Travel is banned for government officials. This ban is applicable to all leaders and government officials including the President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Ministers, etc. Imran Khan has told that this step is being taken as a part of the austerity measures being implemented by the government. In Pakistan, austerity measures are implemented even for the President and the Prime Minister. However, in BSNL even the officers of CGM rank are flying in Business Class. The AUAB has already demanded that, austerity measures should be implemented for the top officers of BSNL. However, so far no action has been taken. Our BSNL Management should take a leaf from the book of Pakistan.

The AUAB has called on the BSNL employees to organise massive rallies, demanding settlement of 3^rd pay revision, allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, pension revision and payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay. The rallies are being organised at New Delhi, at circle and district head quarters. CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to have necessary coordination with the other constituents of the AUAB and organise tomorrow’s rallies massively and effectively. These rallies should be utilised as preparatory for the strike.

The DoT, as well as the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, are telling that BSNL is running in huge loss, and it will not be able to pay salaries to the employees, in the revised pay scales, with 15% fitment. We have to understand that the DoT cites the poor financial condition of BSNL, only to deny 3^rd Pay Revision to the employees. Honestly speaking, the government is not willing to take any step, for the improvement of BSNL’s financial position, as well as it’s revival. A clear example is that the government does not want to allot 4G spectrum to BSNL, which will play a major role in improving BSNL’s financial condition. Not only that. The Government is not also allowing BSNL to utilise, what is called as BSNL’s Gold Mine. Yes, BSNL is having vast areas of lands in the prime parts of all the cities and towns. The value of these lands comes to Rs.1 lakh crores. BSNL can easily earn at least Rs.10,000 crore revenue per year, if these lands are monetised. However, the DoT is not approving this monetisation. BSNL has already written to the Secretary, Telecom, on 29.10.2018, seeking approval for it’s Land Management Policy. If this policy is approved, BSNL can generate huge revenues from it’s landed properties. But so far, the DoT has not given it’s approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy. Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Shri Abhai Kumar, CGM(BW) and Shri D.K. Singal, GM(LD) today and discussed at length about this issue. BSNLEU’s representatives assured them that all out efforts will be taken to unlock BSNL’s Gold Mine.

Com. S.D. Chaudhari, Circle Secretary, Telecom Factory (Mumbai), as well as Organising Secretary (CHQ), retired from service on superannuation, today. He entered in the service in the year 1982, as Examiner in the Telecom Factory. Com. S.D. Chaudhari, together with other pioneers like Com.S.A. Tendulkar, started BSNLEU in Telecom Factory(Mumbai). Earlier, Com.S.D. Chaudhari has served the organisation in the capacities of Vice President (CHQ) and Organising Secretary (CHQ). The CHQ wishes a long, healthy and peaceful retired life to Com.S.D. Chaudhari.

A meeting of the BSNL Working Women's Coordination Committee will be held at Pune, on 28.07.2019. Notification for the meeting will be issued shortly by the Convenor. All the circle secretaries are requested to kindly ensure that members of the BSNL WWCC, from their respective circles, attend the meeting without fail.

A huge election campaign meeting was organised at Pune today. Com.Manoj Barkhe, District President, presided over the meeting and Com.Jakati, District Secretary, welcomed all. The meeting was addressed by Com.N.K. Nalawade, CS, Maharashtra & Vice President (CHQ), Com.John Verghese, AGS and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. The leaders explained in detail about the reasons for the financial crisis of BSNL, the demands of the AUAB for it’s solution and the issues taken up and settled by BSNLEU, since the 7th Membership Verification. The leaders clarified beyond any doubt that, there is no necessity to implement VRS, and also that the unions and associations of BSNL would firmly fight against reduction of the retirement age from 60 to 58. The gathering listened to the speech of the leaders with rapt attention till the end of the meeting.

The revival package of BSNL has been approved by the Union Cabinet in it’s meeting held yesterday the 23.10.2019. BSNLEU has issued the following press statement, communicating it’s views on the decisions taken by the Cabinet.

An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Shiv Sena on Tuesday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that such “brutal politics” was never seen before in the country.
      An editorial in Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ further alleged that the BJP wanted to see “Hindu-Muslim riots” over the Citizenship Amendment Act, but that did not happen. Since the BJP has been cornered over the issue of CAA, several things are happening out of “revenge”, it said. Comparing the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students to the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes, the Shiv Sena said “divisive politics” was dangerous for the country.
     “The fallout of JNU attack is being seen elsewhere in the country...what Modi and Shah want is happening. The country is in danger. Divisive politics is dangerous for the country,” the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said.
      “Allowing blood stains in universities, colleges and beating up of students and indulging in politics over the burning situation...such brutal politics was never seen before,” the Marathi publication said while terming the attack on JNU students as a “blot” on the law and order situation.

[ Courtesy : The Hindu dated 07-01-2020]

कर्मचारी लॉकडाउन के चलते अपने कार्यस्थलों से दूर रहे- इस अवधि को "ड्यूटी" मानने की BSNLEU ने मांग की....
BSNLEU ने डायरेक्टर (HR) को उन कर्मचारियों की समस्या बाबद  लिखा है, जो अपने कार्यस्थल से बाहर थे और लॉकडाउन के तहत हवाई, रेल और यातायात के अन्य साधन बंद हो जाने से अपने कार्यस्थल पर पहुंच पाने में असमर्थ थे।  BSNLEU ने मैनेजेमेंट को अनुरोध किया है कि, ऐसे कर्मचारी, जो लॉकडाउन घोषित होने की वजह से अपने कार्यस्थान पर नही पहुंच पाए, को स्वयं का अवकाश आवेदित करने हेतु बाध्य नही किया जाए। BSNLEU ने मांग की है उक्त श्रेणी  के कर्मचारियों की अनुपस्थिति को "ड्यूटी" ही माना जाए।

The AUAB leaders met Shri Biren Baishya, MP, at Guwahati today and submitted the memorandum. The AUAB representatives explained about the inordinate delay in launching BSNL’s 4G service and also the delay in implementing the revival package. The MP listened to the AUAB leaders and assured to take the needful action.

As a part of the ongoing ‘Work According to Rule’ programme, Non-Executives and Executives are requested to perform their duties strictly according to rules. Non-Executives and Executives are directed not to participate in any marketing activity like, mela or road-show, other than those employees who are posted in the marketing section.