Category Archives: AUAB

To Kolkata AIC of AIBDPA

19 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Delegates from all parts of the country have started their journey to Kolkata to attend the All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA). The biggest BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association, since its formation in 2009, has been continuously and vigorously fighting fr getting justice to the pensioners.

It is working in close contact with BSNLEU and AUAB and is giving full support and solidarity always and now for the three days strike also. In all centres in the country, AIBDPA is organising demonstrations, rally etc. in support of the strike.

They very well understand that the interests of both the pensioners and workers are connected.

TODAY’S PENSIONERS WERE YESTERDAY’S WORKERS AND TODAY’S WORKERS ARE TOMORROW’S PENSIONERS!

Three Days Strike to save BSNL – news reports

19 Tuesday Feb 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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More than a lakh employees and officers working with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have started the three-day nation-wide strike highlighting their long pending issues including the allocation of 4G spectrum to the public sector telecom entity and wage revision. The massive participation of workers in various circles of BSNL conveys a strong message to the centre which has been constantly trying to destabilise the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

The strike which had been called by All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) – a united platform of various organisations including BSNL Employees’ Union, National Federation of Telecom Employees, All India Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Executive’s Association, Sanchar Nigam Executives’ Association, All India Graduate Engineer and Telecom Officer’s Association, Telecommunication Employees Progressive Union, BSNL Officers Association among others – started the protest at 12 am on Monday, and it will continue till January 20.

The striking workforce paid homage to the CRPF forces who had been killed in the Pulwama terror attack on Monday morning. Following the attacks, Jammu and Kashmir circle of BSNL has been excluded from the strike.

Along with the strike call, AUAB has put forward an eight-point charter of demands. Allocation of 4G spectrum to BSNL is the primary one in the demand charter. Though the private operators were allotted 4G spectrum in October 2016 itself, BSNL is still waiting for the 4G spectrum. The absence of 4G services reduces the competency, and it may eventually lead to the dismantling of BSNL.

“The effect of the closure or disinvestment of BSNL or MTNL will be that there would not be any competition and the corporates like Reliance Jio would raise the charges as much as they want since there is no public sector service to curtail the charges,” said VAN Namboodiri of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation.

“Secondly, if it is disinvestment, the corporate sharks are waiting for the land assets of the BSNL/MTNL, as had happened in the case of VSNL by Tata. Another aspect is that only BSNL is serving in certain border areas and in Naxal-affected regions. At the time of the floods, natural calamities etc., it is only BSNL which comes to the rescue,” he said.

The proposals regarding allocation of the 4G spectrum had been submitted by BSNL in December, 2017. In the meeting that was held on February 24, 2018, the minister had assured that 4G spectrum would be allotted to BSNL. But the promise is yet to be fulfilled even after so many protests and meetings.

“Abnormal delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL is adversely affecting the financial revival of the Company. NITI Aayog and Finance Ministry, which doled out huge concessions to bail out the private operators, are opposing 4G spectrum allotment to BSNL,” AUAB said in statement.

Other demands by the employees include payment of pension contribution by BSNL as per the government rule, approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy without any delay, scrapping of BSNL’s outsourcing for the operation and maintenance of its mobile towers etc.

The final demand in the charter is the settlement of the left out issues of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee. (Courtesy: Newsclick)

Pension Revision – Detailed letter of AUAB to Secretary DOT

31 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU, Pension

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The letter written by AUAB to Secretary DOT on Pension Revision is given below. The detailed letter put the demand very clearly for pension revision on the basis of IDA scales.

ALL UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF BSNL (AUAB)
No: UA/2019/ 31.01.2019
To
The Secretary (Telecom),
Department of Telecommunications,
Ministry of Communications,
Sanchar Bhavan, 20, Ashoka Road,
New Delhi-110 001.
Sub: Delinking of Pension Revision for the Pre-2017 BSNL retirees from the Pay
Revision of BSNL employees reg:
Ref: Assurance given by the Hon Minister and Secretary, DoT in the meetings held on
02.12.2018 and 03.12.2018 that Govt decided to delink the pension revision of
BSNL pensioners from the pay revision.
Respected Madam / Sir,
On the formation of BSNL, the employees working in DoT were absorbed in BSNL w.e.f
01.10.2000 with the assurance of better career prospects and payment of pension by the
Government of India. Accordingly Rule-37A was incorporated in CCS Pension Rules, 1972 to
ensure payment of pension on the combined service rendered in DoT and BSNL, on IDA
scales. On absorption, the employees were granted IDA pay scales w.e.f 01.10.2000.
Sub-rule 10 of Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, provides that “in addition to pension or
family pension, as the case may be, the employee who opts for pension on the basis of
combined service shall also be eligible to dearness relief as per Industrial Dearness Allowance
pattern”. Again as per Sub-rule 22 of Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, the pensionary
benefits, including family pension shall be paid by the Government.
In accordance with the above provisions, DoT revised the pension of pre-2007
pensioners/family pensioners of BSNL on 15.03.2011, who retired during 01.10.2000 to
31.12.2006. The pension revision followed the pay revision in BSNL as pay revision
implemented immediately after the DPE guidelines issued on 26.11.2008. Pension revision
implemented through Cabinet decision with 30% fitment, which took time with the fitment
allowed by the DPE for CPSUs.
The pension/family pension of the pre-2007 BSNL pensioners were revised w.e.f. 01.01.2007
as follows by adding together:
i) The existing pension /family pension, including commuted portion of pension, if any.
ii) IDA 78.2% as on 31.12.2006.iii) Fitment of 30%, as per DPE guidelines.
On 03.08.2017, DPE issued guidelines for 3rd Pay revision with 15% fitment. Para 3 of the OM
under the heading Affordability provides that the revised pay scales would be implemented by
the CPSEs subject to the affordability of CPSE. BSNL and MTNL are unique CPSUs where
the retirees are paid pension by the Govt of India as per Rule 37A of CCS (Pension) Rules,
1972. In BSNL, the pay revision is not implemented due to the affordability clause.
The pension Revision of Govt pensioners retired from BSNL cannot be linked with the
pay revision of the serving employees due to the following reasons:
1. All the BSNL retirees were Govt servants, recruited by DoT and absorbed in BSNL. Their
pension is covered by CCS Pension Rules, 1972 as in the case of Central Govt employees.
2. Pension revision for Central Govt pensioners already implemented.

3. As per the terms and condition for absorption, BSNL absorbed employees would continue to
get pension from DoT irrespective of the status of BSNL. As per para 2(b) of DoT order No:
40-13/2013-Pen(T) dated 20.07.2016, it has been clarified that “The liability towards
pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL employees (except those
recruited after 01.10.2000), as per sub rule 22 of Rule 37A of CCS (pension) Rules, 1972,
lies with the Government of India”.
4. The Affordability clause mentioned in DPE guidelines is applicable only for the pay revision
of the serving employees, not for the Pension Revision.
5. Pension revision has to happen even in the cases of:
i) If BSNL is not there?
ii) If BSNL is not profitable and No Pay Revision is implemented in BSNL?
iv) 3rd PRC given different fitment for the serving employees depends on its affordability. This
fitment will be reviewed after every 3 years. If the fitment varies, it will create anomaly
among pensioners.
v) Non-Executives are not covered by the fitment and the pay scales notified by DPE vide
OM dated 03.08.2017. Non-Executives wage revision is as per the negotiated settlement.
In Coal India, Non-Executives signed wage revision agreement with 20% fitment for 5
years period where as DPE guidelines stipulates that if 5 year wage settlement is made,
the fitment has to be proportionately reduced. However for the purpose of uniformity, Non
Executives as well as Executives in BSNL are extended the same fitment from 2nd PRC
period onwards. BSNL is a unique CPSU in that respect also.
6. BSNL retirees are no way connected with the affordability or paying capacity of BSNL. Their
pension is to be paid by the Govt of India, not by BSNL.
7. BSNL has already paid the pension contribution in full to the Govt of India, for their entire
service period in BSNL.
Since the matter of pay revision of BSNL employees pursuant to 3rd PRC recommendation is
yet to be settled, the issue of revision of pension for the pre-2017 BSNL pensioners is required
to be delinked from the pay revision of BSNL serving employees. It is already assured and
announced by Hon MoSC and Secretary, DoT in the meetings held on 02.12.2018 and
03.12.2018 that Govt decided to delink the pension revision of BSNL pensioners from the pay
revision.
However DoT letter to DoP&PW does not reflect this decision and lack recommendation or
proposal of DoT for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Without a proposal from DoT,
DoP&PW is unlikely to give any opinion in this regard. As per DoP&PW, the methodology is to
be worked out and suggested by DoT.
The methodology may be recommended to DoP&PW for giving its approval on the
subject. To avoid an anomaly between serving and the retired employees prior to
01.01.2017, the following method suggested.
a) The pension/family pension of the pre-2017 BSNL pensioners will be revised w.e.f
01.01.2017 as follows by adding together:
i) The existing pension /family pension, including commuted portion of pension, if
any
ii) IDA as on 31.12.2016.
iii) Fitment of 15%.
b) For the serving employees, fitment will be calculated as 15% w.e.f. 01.01.2017 itself
and pension contribution will be paid accordingly by BSNL. However, payment of pay,
allowances and perks will be made by BSNL depending upon its affordability. In the
month of retirement, the payment will be made based on full 15% fitment (Atleast in the
last month, payment will be made based on full 15% fitment).
Anomaly which may arise if pension revision is done with 15% fixation and pay revision
is done with lesser fitment.
A pensioner retired on Oct 2016 with Rs 50,000 last basic pay is getting Rs 25,000 as basic
pension as on 1-1-2017. Now if his basic pension is revised as per PRC with 15% the revised
basic pension will be Rs 63,100 [ i.e. Basic Pension+119.5% DA as on 1-1-07 + 15% fitment]
His batch mate retired on March 2017. His basic pay was also Rs 50,000 on 1-1-17 and last
basic pay on March was also Rs 50,000. Now his pay on 1-1-17 is revised as per PRC with
10% (say) fitment. So his revised pay on 1-1-17 will be Rs 1,20,700. Accordingly his last basic
pay on March would also be Rs 1,20,700 and pension will be 50% of Rs 1,20,700 i.e. Rs
60,350. Thus he will be getting Rs 63,100 – Rs 60,350 = Rs 2750/- less pension compared to
his batch mate retired before 1-1-17 whose pension is revised to Rs 63,100 as per 15%
fixation.
How to solve this anomaly:
Method 1
Fix the pay of 2nd person notionally with 15% fitment but actually with fitment of 10% (say) till
last month of his retirement. The Basic Pay of the last month of his retirement may be restored
as per 15% fixation and pension will be paid on last pay drawn actually. Hence for January and
February his basic pay will be Rs1,20,700 and for March it will be Rs 1,26,200 and accordingly
pension fixed at Rs 63,100 which is equal to his batch mate retired before 1-1-2017.
Method 2:
Fix the pay of 2nd person notionally with 15% fitment but actually with fitment 10%(say).
Hence at the time of retirement his actual Basic Pay will be Rs 1,20,700 and notional Basic
Pay will be 1,26,200. Now calculate his Pension as per his last drawn notional pay and his
pension will be 50% of 1,26,200 i.e Rs 63,100/- which is equal to his batch mate retired before
1-1-2017.
NOTE: This system of fixing pension on notional last pay drawn is already in vogue for BSNL
pensioners retired between 1-1-2007 and 9-06-2013 while extending the benefit of 78.2 IDA
Merger. Their Pay has been notionally revised by merging 78.2% IDA from 1-1-2007 and
Revised pension is being paid on revised notional last pay drawn from 10-06-2013.
Yours Sincerely,

Sd/- P.Abhimanyu (Convener) C.Singh (Chairman)

Copy to: (1) The PS to Hon Minister of State for Communications, New Delhi – 01
(2) Member (Fin), Telecom Commission, DoT, New Delhi – 110001
(3) Additional secretary, DoT, New Delhi – 110001.
(4) The Chairman & Managing Director, BSNL, New Delhi – 110001.
(5) The Director (HR), BSNL Board, New Delhi – 110001
(6) The GM (SR), BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi – 110001

AUAB demands honouring of assurance on delinking of pension revision

31 Thursday Jan 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

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AUAB protests deviation from the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) on delinking Pension Revision from Pay Revision.
In the meeting held on 03.12.2018, between the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and AUAB, it was assured that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision. However, the officers sitting in DoT are trying to deviate from the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C). For example, in the letter written by the DoT, to the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare, the decision of Hon’ble MoS(C) was diluted. In that letter, the DoT had asked the DoP&PW, whether pension revision can be de-linked from pay revision. In yesterday’s meeting with the Additional Secretary also, the DDG(Estt.), DoT, was arguing that pension revision would be done only after pay revision is done. The representatives of the AUAB strongly protested this dilution and demanded that the assurance given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) should be implemented. On hearing both the arguments, the AS(T) directed that the AUAB and the DDG(Estt.) DoT, should hold further discussion on this issue. Accordingly, further discussion took place yesterday, between the representatives of the AUAB and Shri S.K. Jain, DDG(Estt.), DoT. The AUAB categorically told that the decision of the Hon’ble MoS(C) that pension revision would be de-linked from pay revision should be implemented. After observing the stiff resistance against dilution of the Hon’ble MoS(C)’s decision, the DDG(Estt.) assured that the issue would be further discussed with the AS(T). (Courtesy: BSNLEU Website)