Category Archives: AUAB

AUAB decides to defer tomorrow’s hunger strike, after meeting with the CMD BSNL

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

≈ 2 Comments

.
A meeting between the AUAB and the CMD BSNL was held at 03:00 pm today. The Director (HR) and Director (CM) were also present. The CMD BSNL assured that salary payment would be made by 23.10.2019. Further, he also informed that the Cabinet is likely to take a decision on BSNL’s revival package within a week. He appealed to the AUAB to defer the hunger strike scheduled to be held on 18.10.2019. After this meeting, the representatives of the AUAB, present in the meeting, decided to defer the hunger strike for the time being. It is also decided to hold the next meeting of the AUAB on 30.10.2019, for reviewing the situation and for taking appropriate decision regarding future course of action. (AUAB website)

AIBDPA completes fruitful 10 years on 21st October 2019 – Celebrate the Foundation Day !

16 Wednesday Oct 2019

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

≈ Leave a comment

All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) completes fruitful activities of 10 years on 21st October 2019.

Formation.
AIBDPA was formed on 21st October 2009 in an All India Convention of BSNL – DOT Pensioners held at Garhwal Auditorium in New Delhi. It was with the active co-ordination and assistance of BSNL Employees Union (BSNLEU), the recognised union of BSNL employees. Comrades A.K.Bhattacharjee, P.V.Chandrasekharan and J.N.Mishra, veteran leaders of the telecom movement, presided. Com. V.A.N.Nambodiri, General Secretary of BSNL Employees Union, who took initiative for holding the Convention welcomed all. Com. M.K.Pandhe, CITU President, inaugurated the Convention. In his address, he congratulated the BSNL DOT pensioners for holding the convention for forming an all India association for the BSNL DOT Pensioners. Com. S.K.Vyas, the undisputed leader of the the CG Employees and Secretary General of National Co-Ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA), greeted the convention and expressed his happiness for forming the association. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri presented the draft back ground report on the formation of the association.

The hundreds of delegates attending the Convention from almost all the circles approved the formation of the AIBDPA with thunderous applause. The Constitution was adopted. The office-bearers with Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri (Advisor), P.V.Chandrasekharan (Patron), A.K.Bhattacharjee (President), K.G.Jayaraj (General Secretary) and M.L.Tiwari (Treasurer) were unanimously elected.
BSNLEU gave a donation of Rs. 50,000 for the initial expenses, which was much appreciated by the house. Thus the AIBDPA was born.

During the last ten years of its existence, AIBDPA has grown as the biggest organisation of the BSNL DOT Pensioners as also one of the biggest affiliate of the NCCPA. Advisor of AIBDPA V.A.N.Namboodiri is the Patron and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, the Asst. Secretary General of NCCPA. KGJ is also the Executive Committee Member of the Trade Union International (Pensioners and Retirees) which is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU).

Since its inception, AIBDPA has been continuously taking up the issues of the BSNL DOT pensioners with the authorities, including CMD BSNL, Secretary DOT etc. On important issues, it met the Communications Minister also and discussed which paved way for settlement. The issues of the BSNL DOT Pensioners were raised in the Parliament through MPs. In settling the Pension Revision due from 2007, 78.2 IDA fixation, removal of 60:40 ratio issue, restoration of Medical Allowance, increasing of medical allowance etc. AIBDPA was always in the forefront.

AIBDPA along with NCCPA were the first to be invited for discussion by the VII Pay Commission, before which the major issues of BSNL DOT pensioners were presented by V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor.

AIBDPA organised several agitational programmes, March to Parliament, Dharna etc. for settlement of various issues. All these were well participated. It supported and participated in the programmes organised by BSNLEU and AUAB on the issues of revival of BSNL and on other demands. AIBDPA office-bearers are actively participating in the Pension Adalat and other forums for settlement of grievances.

AIBDPA CHQ publishes one quarterly journal ‘Telepensioner’ for the benefit’of its members, which is widely circulated.

AIBDPA is a democratic and progressive organisation of DOT BSNL Pensioners. It will continue to serve the BSNL DOT pensioners and organise struggles to achieve them.

The tenth anniversary of BSNL is approaching when the BSNL is in severe crisis. The pro-corporate and privatisation policy as well as the anti-PSU policy have made the healthy and profitable BSNL to loss making and weak. Contract workers have not received wages for the last 10 months. Pension Revision for BSNL pensioners as per III PRC wef 01-01-2017 has not been granted so far. Salaries are delayed for executives and employees. 4G Spectrum is not allotted to BSNL. Govt is openly supporting Reliance Jio and other private companies. The All Unions and Associations of BSNL have given call for struggle on the issues. AIBDPA fully support the struggles.

AIBDPA has given call to observe and celebrate the 10th anniversary of AIBDPA in a befitting way. Organise conventions, GB Meetings, demonstrations etc. and explain the past achievements and the struggles for the present demands. Take this opportunity to enroll more members.

Warm greetings to all on the 10th anniversary of AIBDPA!

AUAB plans agitational programmes – Day Long Hunger Fast on 18-10-2019

11 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, TU News - India

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, ,

We are happy to know that AUAB of BSNL has met with increased number of unions and decided for agitational programmes to save BSNL and on demands of the workers.We have been requesting all the unions to meet and jointly plan programmes. We congratulate the unions/associations for the unity for action. The decisions of the meeting of AUAB held on 11-10-2019, as published in BSNLEU website is given below:

AUAB gives call for hunger strike on 18.10.2019 – make the programme a resounding success..

A meeting of the AUAB was held today. Com.Chandeswar Singh, Chairman, presided over. Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convenor, welcomed everyone and briefed about the agenda.The meeting expressed it’s serious resentment over the non-payment of the September salary. Non-payment of contract workers’ wages for the past 8 months, non-payment of electricity bills, the misleading reports appearing in the media that, BSNL would be closed down,etc., were seriously viewed by the meeting. After in-depth discussion, it was decided to organise a one day hunger strike on 18-10-2019, to be participated in by the General Secretaries, Circle Secretaries and District Secretaries, at the Corporate Office, Circle and SSA levels respectively. Together with this, lunch hour demonstrations are to be organised at all the places on same day, involving the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL. It is also decided that the unions and associations which could not attend today’s meeting are to be contacted immediately and are to be requested to participate in the programme. The AUAB will again meet on 21-10-2019, to decide about the next course of action. The following are the demands:-

Demands:-

Immediate payment of the September salary. Timely payment of salary every month.
Payment of contract / casual labourers’ wages and payment electricity bills and rentals.
Revival of BSNL by immediate allocation of 4G spectrum, extension of financial assistance / soft loan and approval for BSNL’s Land Monetisation proposal.
Settlement of 3rd Pay Revision, Pension Revision and 30% Superannuation benefits.
. Immediate remittance of dues towards GPF, Bank loan EMI, Society, LIC premium,etc.

AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF have also given call to participate in the programme effectively.

Govt delays BSNL Revival Plan – Complete united action of BSNL workers, Pensioners, Contract workers required.

08 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNL News

≈ 2 Comments

Govt. is dilly-dallying with the Revival Plan of BSNL. Nobody exactly knows, what exactly is the plan. Various different and contradictory news are also appearing in print and social media. The Unions/Associations have demanded for allotment of 4G Spectrum, soft loan to manage the loan as also immediate development, payment of salaries and wages etc. But the government is delaying any revival plan.

The existence of BSNL it self is being questioned by the Finance ministry, if the press reports are correct. It is reported that the Finance Ministry has recommended closure of BSNL and MTNL. What authority, the mandarins of Finance Ministry have to recommend closure of these two PSUs which are serving lakhs and villages and cities in the country? It is only BSNL which services the villages, which is loss making. Whether any private company will enter these far off villages? Who will provide telecom services in the border areas, which is risky and loss making?

The suitable reply to these proposals are the untied actions of the entire BSNL employees, contract workers and pensioners with the solid support of the public. For this, all the unions and associations in BSNL, whether recognised or not, whether executive or non-executive should come together as in the past and give a befitting reply to BSNL management and the government. Any delay is suicidal. Unity and Struggle is our way to revive BSNL.

Pay wages to BSNL contract workers, reinstate the retrenched workers.

26 Thursday Sep 2019

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

≈ 2 Comments

About one lakh of contract workers engaged by BSNL and earlier by DOT, for the various important works in running the telecommunication network, have not been paid wages for the last seven months. Seven workers have committed suicide unable to face the most difficult situation, unable to look after their families. BSNL nor the government was not even human to console the grieving families, who lost their bread earner.

In the name of financial difficulties, BSNL is issuing directions to reduce the number of contract workers. Who will do the work, they have been doing so far? Can a worker be thrown out, with out giving him any benefit, not even gratuity, refund of EPF etc. ?

After continuous dharna for about 90 days, the BSNL contract workers in Kerala has started indefinite strike w.e.f. 19th September, the 51st anniversary of the historic one day strike by the Central Government employees, demanding payment of wages with arrears, reinstatement of retrenched workers etc. In Kozhikode, the Samara Sahaya Samithi has decided to organise a ‘Human Chain’ on 5th October 2019 in the city. In other districts and various other circles also agitation is going on.

We demand the government to immediately ensure that the wages are paid with arrears, regular payment is ensured and that the retrenched workers are taken back.

BSNL IS CAPABLE OF RESTORING TO ITS PAST GLORY. IT HAS GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAN POWER

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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

≈ 4 Comments

 

BSNL IS CAPABLE OF RESTORING TO ITS PAST GLORY. IT HAS GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAN POWER

The media reports are always mentioning BSNL with adjectives like sick, incipient, loss making etc. with the ill motive of denigrating it and also giving a wrong signal to the public that BSNL is going to be privatised or closed. The government also wants the same, though Communications Minister has some Revival plan.

But is BSNL so sick and incipient? No sir, it is still vibrant, got good infrastructure, committed employees and increasing number of mobile subscribers every month. Let us look in to the details:( as on 31-03-2019)

ASSETS:

12.68 crore subscribers – 11.56 crore Mobile 1.11 crore landline.( 3.94 crore rural including landline and GSM)
2.15 crore Broadband customers, including ADSL, FTTH, Wi-MAX, Wi-Fi etc.
32,760 Telephone Exchanges – 8,641 urban and 24,029 rural.
8.49 lakh Route Kms of OFC network
2,548 Microwave Route Kms and 95 Satellite Earth Stations
67,618 Towers.
GSM BTS – 1,46,065, including rural, urban (2G, 3G)
3G coverage in 6,383 cities.
1,32,229 villages connectivity
10.58% Market Share of both GSM & Landline combined.(4th position after Vodafone-Idea, Bharti Airtel and reliance Jio)

Number of employees 1,66,974
Reduction of employees in 2018-19 = 16,548

Approximate land and building will be worth several lakhs of crores of rupees
Staff Quarters in all important centres.
7 Telecom Factories in W.Bengal, M.P., Chhattisgarh and Mumbai.
2 Advanced Training centres at Ghaziabad and Jabalpur.
About 20 RTTCs and CTTCs (Training centres)

No other institution in India has got so much land and building assets, except Railways.

BSNL has been increasing its mobile connections every month, when all other telcos except Reliance Jio is losing customers.

What is the Revenue, Expenditure, Loss? Depreciation
2013- 14 Rs. 27,996 cr. 34,930 cr. Rs. 7020 cr. Rs. 6023cr
2014-15 Rs. 28,645 cr. 37,292 cr Rs. 8234 cr. Rs. 8,817cr
2015-16 Rs. 32,411 cr 37,270 cr. Rs. 4859 cr. Rs 7,206cr
2016-17 Rs. 31,533 cr 36,327 cr. Rs. 4,793 cr Rs. 6330cr
2017-18 Rs. 25,071 cr. 33,808 cr. Rs. 7993 cr Rs. 5832cr
The loss is mainly due to the amount of depreciation counted in the expenditure. This is not an actual expenditure, but the % of depreciation calculated for the building and other assets. If the depreciation is removed and only the actual expenditure is taken, the loss is minimal.

The wage bill has not increased, but was almost static, since almost 10,000 to 17,000 employees were retiring every year without substitute. The number of staff in 2000 was 3.5 lakhs which at present is only 1.6 lakhs.

The main reason for the loss is due to non- allotment of 4G Spectrum, non-refund of about Rs.14,000 crores by the DOT/Government including increased pension contribution taken from BSNL and not honouring the assurances on financial viability by the government at the time of corporatisation in 2000.

The debt of BSNL is about Rs. 14,000 crore, while that of each of the private telcos are more than Rs. one lakh crore. The predatory pricing and violation of rules by Reliance Jio is another reason for loss of all the companies.

This government’s policy is to privatise/close all the PSUs one after another as recommended by NITI Ayog. Privatisation or closure of a profitable PSU will naturally be questioned by the people, Hence BSNL has to be made loss making before privatisation/Closure. VRS is also another weapon to destroy the services and this is what the govt want to implement in BSNL. This has to be fought and defeated.

The public and the customers are not fully aware that the closure/privatisation of BSNL and MTNL will result in increased rent, charges etc. for telephone services. Just like the price of the petrol nowadays, the telephone charges also will increase almost daily. It will adversely affect all the 120 crore subscribers of all the telcos.

The workers also have to improve the services to the maximum possible, which will ensure public support for the PSU. BSNL employees are getting comparatively good wages and the work should be better. There are many genuine and fully justified demands of the workers including wage revision etc. and struggle has to take place for those. But immediate issue is the survival of BSNL and maximum effort form the part of the workers is very important.

As shown above BSNL is neither weak nor to be written off. Once the 7th biggest telecom company in the world, it can come back again to the glorious position that it held earlier.

We seek full support of the people in making BSNL strong and an efficient organisation to give the best service to the customers.

Prime Minister has to answer to the people.

06 Monday May 2019

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

≈ 2 Comments

BSNL is a 100% Government company and dictated by the policies of the government. Whether required or not, the government is interfering in all matters to ensure that BSNL does not expand and is finished so that the private telcos, especially Reliance Jio can capture the entire market. BSNL is a thorn for the Reliance Jio and hence it has to be finished. And it is towards this idea, that central government is acting against BSNL.

But it has gone too far. The one lakh or so contract workers who are working continuously to keep the service maintained in good condition, are not paid their meagre wages for the last 4 months. This is totally unacceptable.

Mr. Prime Minister,  while thousands of crores of rupees are being arranged through loans etc. to the big corporates like Ambani, Adani etc. by you and your government, you are not even allowing BSNL to take loan from the banks to pay the wages to the contract employees.

In your own constituency, Varanasi, the contract workers are only paid about Rs. 1,500 /2000 monthly ( whereas the wages to be paid are Rs.10,500), and that also is not paid for ten months. Cruelty and inhuman action has a limit!

In similar situation in the KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation), when due to loss the company could not pay the wages and pension, the LDF government took up the responsibility and paid the wages and pension, despite the fact the government was in financial difficulty due to floods etc.

Mr. Prime minister, at least show human consideration to the starving families of the contract workers in BSNL. They dont require 50,000 or 60,000 crores of rupees like Adanis and Ambanis, not even 1% of that. You  spend thousands of crores of rupees for your costly dresses, but what about the hungry families, including children?

We request you to act immediately to ensure that the wages with arrears are paid to the BSNL contract workers.

 

 

Merger of BSNL Circles in the agenda

06 Monday May 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

The government and DOT seems to be always thinking about merger  and or bifurcation with regard to BSNL. Earlier it was the proposal for Merger of BSNL and MTNL. Later there was bifurcation of BSNL in to Tower Company. Both did not work out due to strong opposition from the unions.

As per media reports the present proposal is to merge certain circles in the name of loss and non-viability. The circles proposed to merge are Bihar and Jharkhand, M.P. and Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Haryana, East UP and West UP etc.  These are all circles which had been bifurcated earlier, after formation of new states, except that of East UP and West UP. It is not known whether the issue has been discussed with the Unions/Associations in BSNL, who are always very much anxious to improve the efficiency. By merging these circles, whether the efficiency will go up? Or is it due to non-availability of senior officers to hold the posts and reluctance to post promoted officials?

These are things which adversely affect the efficiency of the services and need to be discussed with the staff/union representatives. They should be informed and their viewpoints also taken in to consideration.

Anti-BSNL policies of the governments that came to power at the Centre are responsible for BSNL’s crisis.

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNLEU

≈ 2 Comments

Recently, the spokesperson for Congress Party, Randeep Singh Surjewala has blamed the Modi government for the financial woes of BSNL. In reply to this, Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications has stated that BSNL and MTNL, are suffering due to decisions taken under the UPA regime. What Shri Manoj Sinha says is correct. At the same time what Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala said is also perfectly correct. The AUAB has been accusing that BSNL is in a financial crisis today, only because of the anti-BSNL policies adopted by the successive governments that came to power at the Centre. The AUAB has been maintaining that the employees of BSNL are in no way connected with BSNL’s present financial condition. What Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shri Manoj Sinha have said, have proved this.(Courtey: bsnleu.in)

Oppose VRS – Organise powerful demonstrations on 12-04-2019.

10 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

In the name of revival of BSNL, the government is moving fast to implement VRS in BSNL. The DoT has not bothered to discuss it’s so called revival plan of BSNL with the unions and associations, which are important stake-holders of BSNL. Further, the government has unilaterally decided to divert the income to be generated through the monetisation of BSNL’s lands, to fund the VRS. This is nothing, but a well thought of plan, to deprive BSNL of the funds needed for it’s development and financial revival. Further, VRS is the government’s strategy to cut down the size of BSNL’s employees, so as to make it attractive for privatisation. The unions and associations which are opposing VRS have called on the employees to organise protest demonstrations throughout the country on 12-04-2019. We request all the circle and district unions to mobilise maximum number of employees and to make the demonstration a huge success.(courtesy: BSNLEU website)