Category Archives: AUAB

Payment of AGR dues by private telecom companies – Supreme Court says their Managing Directors may be sent to jail.

21 Saturday Mar 2020

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

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Payment of AGR dues by private telecom companies – Supreme Court says their Managing Directors may be sent to jail.
We have already updated on this website, how the private telecom companies had been paying a lesser licence fee amount to the government all these years, by giving a wrong definition to the AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue). We have also reported how on 24-10-2019, the Supreme Court had directed the private telecom companies to pay the entire amount due on account of AGR. The Supreme Court had also pulled up the DoT, for being lenient to the private telecom companies, in collecting the outstanding AGR dues. Despite all these, after the last hearing, the DoT permitted the private telecom companies to make a “self-assessment” of the AGR dues to be paid by them. The DoT also filed a petition in the Court, stating that the private telecom companies should be permitted to pay their AGR dues over a period of 20 years and also they should be exempted from payment of penalties and interest. Under these circumstances, the case came up for hearing again on last Wednesday (18-03-2020). On that day, the Supreme Court once again lashed out at the DoT, for seeking relief for telecom companies in paying the AGR dues. The Court refused to take up the Centre’s plea for allowing telecom companies to pay the AGR dues in 20 years, saying the application would be taken up only after two Weeks. The Court also severely criticised the DoT, for allowing the private telecom companies to make a self assessment of their AGR dues. If required, the managing directors of the telecom companies will be summoned and may even be sent to jail, the court observed. Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices together have to pay Rs.1.02 lakh crore as AGR dues to the government, as per the Supreme Court order dated 24-10-2019.

[BSNLEU website Date : 21 – Mar – 2020]

Hunger Strike on 24th February called by AUAB

22 Saturday Feb 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB

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CHQ had already given a call to join the twin programme of agitation, called by AUAB, Lunch hour Demonstration on 11-02-2020 and Hunger Strike on 24-02-2020. The first program was successfully conducted throughout the country with participation of pensioners also.

The second agitation, Hunger Strike is being held on 24-02-2020 and it has to made a resounding success for settlement of the following issues;

Immediate payment of salary for the months of December, 2019 & January, 2020, as well as prompt payment of salary every month.
Immediate clearance of the dues, already deducted from the salaries of employees.
Immediate launching of BSNL’s 4G service.
Immediate granting of sovereign guarantee for issuing of bonds by BSNL.
Immediate withdrawal of notices issued under FR 17 (A).
No whimsical transfer of employees, consequent to the implementation of VRS. (AIBDPA Website)

BSNL – AUAB decides to launch agitational programme.

06 Thursday Feb 2020

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

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A meeting of the AUAB was held today, presided over by Com.Chandeswar Singh, Chairman. All the constituents of the AUAB attended today’s meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convenor, welcomed all and briefed on the agenda for discussion. The meeting held in-depth discussions and decided to launch agitational programme on the following Demands:-

Immediate payment of salary for the months of December, 2019 & January, 2020, as well as prompt payment of salary every month.
Immediate clearance of the dues, already deducted from the salaries of employees.
Immediate launching of BSNL’s 4G service.
Immediate granting of sovereign guarantee for issuing of bonds by BSNL.
Immediate withdrawal of notices issued under FR 17 (A).
No whimsical transfer of employees, consequent to the implementation of VRS.

Action Programme:

Lunch hour demonstrations on 11.02.2020.
Hunger strike at all levels on 24.02.2020.
[Date : 06 – Feb – 2020]

BSNL plans outsourcing to make up for VRS retirement.

03 Friday Jan 2020

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

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78,569. It is the number of employees in BSNL, who have taken retirement through VRS and which will be effected by 31st January 2020.The retirement of such a large number of employees, more than 50% of the existing employees, will certainly adversely affect the service of BSNL. The AUAB and unions have demanded that the post VRS scenario and what to be done should be discussed with the unions. A detailed discussion is yet to take place.

In the meanwhile, management has issued certain instructions regarding outsourcing as also reduce the Business Areas by rearranging. Many small stations may be adversely affected, causing difficulty to the subscribers. BSNL is not for profit only, but it has a commitment to its subscribers and customers. BSNL management should urgently discuss all the post-VRS situation with the unions and find out effective solutions. Outsourcing work is a method of exploiting the unemployed and denying them the social benefits. Outsourcing should be transparent and according to the laws of the land.

Happy New year! Welcome to AIBDPA!

31 Tuesday Dec 2019

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

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78569 BSNL officers and employees will be leaving their dear institution taking Voluntary retirement under VRS by 31st January 2020. Thus BSNL will lose a large number of employees who have steadfastly worked for long years and served the people. In addition, there will be some more employees who will be retiring on superannuation now.

Probably this will be the VRS, in which such a large number of employees have opted. It will seem that they have opted voluntarily, out of their own willingness and pleasure. But such is not the case. An examination of the various issues will give a different picture. It was one of most cunning plot, planned and implemented by the government and BSNL to send workers out of the company.

All these employees joined the Posts and Telegraphs Department / Department of Telecommunications (DOT) with great hopes for a better job, good remuneration and service conditions. A large number have joined as Reserve trained Pool (RTP), which was a scheme initiated at the time of Minister C.M.Stephen. The intention of the scheme was engaging trained personnel on hourly basis as reserve staff paying them a pittance of rupees. There was no intention to give them permanent job. They were to be kept as reserve trained pool. But once they joined, they understood that there is a strong Federation, NFPTE, and its affiliated Unions to take up their issues and organise struggle for them. Within a few years, through sustained struggles, all these comrades were regularised. It was a great achievement. Once they were regularised, they hoped that they will be able to continue their full term and retire on superannuation. The retirement age was increased from 58 to 60 by 1996. This means two more years of service.

Despite strong agitation and strike by the entire workers, Telecom Services were corporatised in to BSNL. The recognised federations, NFTE,FNTO and BTEF agreed for corporatisation after obtaining certain assurances. Unions like E.III(N), T.III etc. resisted till the last, well knowing that corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation.

But once BSNL was constituted, the above unions took up on themselves to ensure that the BSNL workers get justice and that BSNL is improved and strengthened. The conversion from CDA pay scales to IDA wef 01-10-2000 benefitted the entire employees, including officers. The role of BSNLEU in this was appreciated by all. BSNLEU became the sole recognised union in 2004 getting more than 50% of votes in the II Membership verification. BSNL strengthened and with an annual revenue of Rs.40,000 crore and a profit of an average of Rs. 6,000 crore became one of the biggest PSUs in the country. Govt. was worried that the private companies will be backtracked. It wanted to introduce VRS for 1 lakh workers, disinvestment of about 10% to 20% shares, unbundle the valuable copper cables spread all over India etc. to ensure that the company is weakened and is made ready for privatisation. The VRS draft Scheme was circulated.

BSNLEU, the recognised union, took initiative and brought all the unions under the Forum/Joint Forum and fought against these attacks. It clearly understood that VRS is neither beneficial to the company nor the workers. Massive propaganda was done. Many strikes and struggles were organised. 20th April 2010 strike was spectacular. The government was compelled to discuss and agree that there will be no VRS, no disinvestment, no unbundling of copper cables etc. etc. It was also agreed that wage revision w.e.f. 2007 will be finalised and that Pension Revision will be taken with the cabinet. Thus the govt could not even finalise the VRS and not a single official was sent out through VRS. It was a great victory against the govt’s anti-worker policy.

The struggle was not over. Pay Revision for executives was ordered as per recommendations of the II Pay Revision Committee. But BSNL took a tough stand on the pay revision of the non-executives. It took about three years to finalise the wage revision for employees and many agitations had to be organised. But at last the wage agreement was reached with 30% fitment, the highest at that time. Four Promotion Scheme (NEPP) was also got signed. Till that time non-executives were eligible for one or two promotions. Certain cadres had no promotion at all. The value of increments were increased. The telecom employees never in their life got such a better pay revision. This was done by BSNLEU through continuous struggles. Of course our allies were also there. The yearly wage bill increased from Rs. 10,000 crore to Rs. 14,000 crore because of the Pay/Wage revision.

Almost every year since 2004, there has been strikes, either done or withdrawn after settlement. Many of these struggles were for better service and allotment of spectrum etc.

Modi govt. is hell bound on favouring Reliance Jio, the new entrant owned by Mukesh Ambani, and wanted BSNL to be closed or privatised. But as long as the workers who fought continuously are there, it was not possible. A well planned attack was started on BSNL and its workers. 4G spectrum was denied to BSNL even after all others were given the same. BSNL was not allowed to purchase required equipment. All funds available with BSNL was taken over by DOT on one pretext or other. BSNL punged in to loss.

Next came the non-payment of wages to contract workers for about 10 months. The workers wages were delayed in many months. Govt and media always presented BSNL as a loss making company which can not be revived and has to be closed or privatised. The wage bill of the company was made a big issue. Propaganda was made that the retirement age will be reduced to 58 from the present 60. Insecurity was created in the minds of the employees. Due to the agitations of the AUAB, govt was compelled to state that BSNL will not be closed or privatised and that a Revival Plan will be implemented. It included VRS for 80,000 workers, allotment of 4G Spectrum, sovereign guarantee, locan etc. But the main plan was VRS.
In order to compel workers to opt for VRS all tricks were adopted by DOT and BSNL management including threats of transfer, work up to 12 hours etc. etc. And the result was that more than 78,000 employees opted for VRS. There are many gray areas in the VRS, which may create problems in future. But the workers felt so insecure that they opted for VRS.

There are two important issues in the present scenario. One is about the benefits and pension settlement etc of the employees opted for VRS. AIBDPA has already taken up the matter with DOT and the Member (Finance) agreed to our demand that all the retirees should get the pension by end of the month itself. In case, there is any delay, he agreed to pay provisional pension, so that all VRS retirees will get the pension without delay. AIBDPA has also demanded that all the settlements should be done without delay. Now that these workers will be pensioners from February, it becomes the duty of AIBDPA to settle their demands.

As far Revival of BSNL is considered the AUAB has already demanded for early allotment of 4G Spectrum, loan etc.

It is in this situation that the New Year 2020 is arriving. AIBDPA welcomes all the VRS retirees and requests them to become members of AIBDPA. All are pensioners and difference and division of the workers are not there. AIBDPA has got members from those retired from the BSNL Board as also other top officers. It has branches and circles all over the country. It is the biggest Pensioners Association in the Central govt. employees. It is affiliated to the National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners (NCCPA) which is headed by Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra (AIRF) and Com. K.K.N.Kutty , both Members of the JCM National Council. AIBDPA is also affiliated to the Trade Union International (Pensioners and retirees) and its General Secretary Com. K.G.Jayaraj is one of the Executive committee Members.

AIBDPA has been formed 10 years back and had organised several agitational programmes for getting 78.2% IDA fixation for pensioners, Pension revision w.e.f. 2017,delinking of pension revision from pay revision etc. and also has presented the major demands of the DOT/BSNL pensioners before the VII CPC. Continuous efforts are being made for the grant of Pension revision.
The new pensioners on VRS can also get assured that their problems will be effectively taken by AIBDPA.

In fact, AIBDPA is in struggle path at present for the Pension Revision, Medical reimbursement, medical allowance etc. The programme includes meeting all M.P.s through out the country and forwarded our Memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister, Dharna on 12th February 2020 all over India and Parliament March on March 12.

AIBDPA is the organisation of the veterans of the struggles. We welcome all the new pensioners to its fold and assure that it will make out all efforts to settle the issues of the new pensioners.

We Wish a Happy and Fruitful New Year to all comrades, friends and wellwishers!

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.