21 Tuesday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News
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The 26th April issue of Malayalam Weekly ‘Deshabhimani’ carries two articles on BSNL written by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri and Com. A.K.Ramesh, which covers about 20 pages. All the details about the issues and demands of the workers, how BSNL has lost its front position, the historical back ground – all are there. Kerala Comrades and those who knows Malayalam from outside Kerala can read and convey their comments.
21 Tuesday Apr 2015
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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations heartily congratulates the BSNL employees, both executives and non-executives for the excellent strike started on 21st April which will continue tomorrow also.
The Strike is complete in Kerala, T.Nadu, A.P., Karnataka, W.Bengal, Kolkata, Assam, Punjab etc as usual. This time the the strike is complete in all other circles like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajastan etc.
The workers have understood that this is a “DO OR DIE” struggle for the BSNL employees and BSNL itself. Hence with out consideration of the union or colour of the flag, they came together and struck work.
Inspiring reports are coming from many places where not even a single person, including ITS officers attended.
The National Forum convey its hearty congratulations to all the employees, the organisations and their leaders for the excellent strike.
Forum has approached the Members of Parliament for taking up the issues in the Parliament (Lok Sabha) which is in session.
20 Monday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Forum, Uncategorized
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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001
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Press Release 20th April 2015
BSNL Employees’ Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 Demanding Revival of BSNL
As per the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, the BSNL Employees, both executives and non-executives numbering around 2.25 lakhs, will resort to Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding immediate action from the Government and BSNL Management for the Revival of BSNL.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited was the No.1 telecom company in India and was having an annual revenue of about Rs.40,000 crore and profit of about Rs 8,000 – 10,000 crore till 2006. The non-implementation of the government assurances on financial viability, continued cancellation of the BSNL tenders of mobile equipment, confiscation of the cash balance of the company by the government on one pretext or other, discriminating BSNL in favour of private companies -all these deliberate decisions have pushed BSNL in to loss for the last five years.
The government has withdrawn from its assurance to pay ADC, refund of licence fee and liberal subsidy from the USO fund, for compensating BSNL for the loss of about Rs.10,000 crore per year for providing services to the villages and rural areas in the country which is as per the universal connectivity policy of the government. The present loss of the company around Rs. 7,000- 8,000 crore per year will be covered and there will be profit for BSNL if these assurances are honoured and implemented.
Immediate purchase of various equipments for providing mobile, broadband etc. services are most important. Sufficient funds are required for the same, which BSNL is not having at present.
An amount of Rs. 6,700 crore is due to be paid to BSNL by Government towards the cost of spectrum, which the BSNL has surrendered. An amount of Rs. 1,250 crore, allotted to BSNL in lieu of ADC for providing loss making connections for 2012-13, is still pending payment. The employees are demanding that these two amounts be paid immediately so that BSNL can purchase required equipment.
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has suggested various proposals for providing better service to the customers on which also no action is taken.
The Forum also demands that BSNL should start 4G services without any delay. It also has demanded that it should be made mandatory for the Central/State Governments and PSUs to take BSNL service as was done in the case of Air India.
The strike Demands submitted by the Forum are mainly intended to improve the services and to better the financial viability of the company. However, neither the Secretary, Department of Telecom nor the Communications Minister have so far called the Unions/associations for any discussion or settlement of the issues. The entire responsibility for the strike and its adverse affect on the services and difficulties to the public lies upon the Government and the Management.
The Two Days Strike on 21-22 April will start from the mid-night of 20-21 April 2015. We solicit the support of all in our effort to improve the BSNL services and revive it.
V.A.N.Namboodiri
Convener, Forum
Mobile: 9868231431.
20 Monday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum, General
2.25 lakh BSNL employees will create History through their Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 for safe guarding the interests of BSNL and for its Revival. The Joint Forum / Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations since the formation of BSNL has been making all out efforts to fight the anti-PSU policy of the government – both NDA and UPA – and have gone on many strikes against VRS, Disinvestment, Unbundling and so on and has been generally successful in stopping them.
This time, the strike is for the Revival of BSNL. It is a “Do or Die” battle, since BSNL is already in red with loss for five years since 2010. The government has to change its anti-PSU policy. It has to honour and implement its own assurances to BSNL that the financial viability of the company will be ensured through payment of ADC, liberal subsidy from USO Fund and also by reimbursement of licence fee. These are all withdrawn for many years.
The 20 Point Strike demands are well known to the workers. It is intended to revive BSNL. BSNL is our bread and butter. It is to be saved.
Towards Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015. 100% participation will show the government and the management that the workers will not tolerate any non-sense. We will have to continue the struggles even after the strike.
19 Sunday Apr 2015
The 2 Days Strike of the BSNL Employees will start on 21st April 2015 and will continue for 22nd. This is a strike to SAVE BSNL and SAVE NATION. If BSNL is not there, workers also will not be there. Hence this is a “DO OR DIE” situation for the employees. There is no other way but to strengthen BSNL and compel the Government to support BSNL and ensure that the assurances given by the Government at the time of corporatisation are honoured. The government should assist its own PSU company. The entire work force have to ensure a better customer service.
MAKE THE STRIKE COMPLETE, MAKE IT A BIG SUCCESS BY FULL PARTICIPATION.
19 Sunday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, CG Employees, Forum
Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of Central government Employees and Workers have extended solidarity and support to the two days strike on 21-22 April 2015 by the BSNL employees demanding Revival of BSNL. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has sent letters for support from all the central trade Unions and Federations of Central/State Govt. Employees, PSU Unions etc. The copy of Confederation letter is given below:
SOLIDARITY TO BSNL EMPLOYEES
All Affiliates & State Committees (COCs)
Dear Comrades,
As you are aware BSNL Employees are organizing TWO DAYS NATIONWIDE STRIKE on 21st & 22nd April 2015. Their main demand is “SAVE BSNL & SAVE NATION” ie:; to change the anti-BSNL and anti-people Telecom policy of the NDA Govt which is aimed at destroying the public sector BSNL paving way for for eventual privatization. After Modi Govt coming to power, the same policy is being vigorously pursued in all Central Govt services including the biggest departments like Railways, Defence and Postal. Needless to say that success of our struggle against this policy of the Govt depends upon the success of the struggle of BSNL workers. .
National Secretariat of the Confederation calls upon all affiliates and COCs to express solidarity with the fighting BSNL workers by holding demonstration in front of BSNL offices at all important centers during the two day’s strike.
Yours fraternally,
MKrishnan, Secretary General, Confederation.
Forum thanks Confederation for the support and solidarity.
18 Saturday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Forum
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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
21-22 April 2015 Strike – Meeting with CMD BSNL on 17th April 2015
Consequent to the notice issued for Two Days Strike on 21-22 April, the CMD BSNL held a meeting with the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations at 04.00 PM on 17th April 2015 on the demands raised in the strike notice. Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, Smt. Sujata Ray (ED Finance), Shri Shameem Akthar, Sr GM(SR), Ms. Madhu Arora, GM( Estt.), Shri A.Sinha, GM(Admn) and Shri S.S.Agarwal, GM(Pers) attended from the Management.
The Forum was represented by Coms. C.Singh(NFTE), Chairman Forum, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA),Rashid Khan(TEPU), H.P.Singh (BSNLOA), Swapan Chakraborty (BSNLEU), K.Sebastin (SNEA), Rakesh Sethi (AIBSNLOA), Rana Pratap (BEA), Neeraj Kumar(FNTOBEA), R.Gunasekaran(BSNLDEU), Sunil Gautam(SNATTA), R.G.Pandey(BTEU), Satya Dev Sharma(ATM), Mohinder Singh (FNTO), Hari Singh(BTU), Prabodh Kumari (SEWA BSNL) and (NFTBE).
All the demands raised in the strike notice were discussed in detail. The discussion continued for about three hours. More than half of the issues were items on which decision is to be taken by the Government/DOT. On those issues, the Management was asked to take up the same with the DOT and fix a meeting of the Forum with DOT. The following is a brief gist of the discussion:
On the issues connected with DOT/Government, the Forum demanded that these issues should be taken up by the Management with DOT. Management stated that efforts are being made for arranging a meeting of the Forum with DOT.
The meeting ended at about 06.30 hours. As indicated above, most of the items pertain to Government/DOT. No development on the other issues also, except that the Forum leaders effectively presented the demands.
The Forum will meet at 11.00 AM on 20-04-2015 for last minute consultations. In the meantime, the Circle/SSA/Branch Secretaries are requested to fully mobilise the workers for the two days strike on 21-22 April 2015. New developments, if any, will be intimated.
V.A.N.Namboodiri
Convener, Forum.
16 Thursday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News
As per BSNL, on 12th of April 2015 BSNL has handled a total of 200TB of data on its mobile network. BSNL also witnessed a steady growth of 65% year on basis. In south zone BSNL achieved 100% growth in mobile data volume. Out of the total revenue of BSNL, data constitute only 9% compared to industry average of 14-15%.
During the last 2 years, a series of steps have been initiated in BSNL Mobile Network for facilitating and capturing the ever-increasing data volumes. Above all, each one of us has been sensitized towards the importance of providing an enabling environment for data growth, said BSNL CMD, Anupam Shrivastava.
Other operators in the country haven’t released any reports on data handled till now. But 200TB mobile data is a mile stone for BSNL and will boost its effort to expand its data service. ( A press report)
16 Thursday Apr 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Forum
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations met Smt. Aruna Sundararajan, Administrator,USOF, and discussed about the release of the Rs. 1,250 crores which is allotted to BSNL in lieu of ADC for the year 2012-13. Administrator USOF stated that the matter will be favourably considered.
This was recommended by the TRAI two years back. This amount is very much necessary for the financial viability of BSNL. Forum has been pressing for the release of the amount for the last two years. Unnecessary delay has already occurred. It is hoped that USOF will take immediate action.
09 Thursday Apr 2015
Conciliation by the Chief Labour Commissioner on strike notice issued by Forum
The conciliation meeting called by the Chief Labour Commissioner was held today, 09th April 2015, at the Committee Room of the labour ministry in Shram Shakti Bhawan. Chief Labour Commissioner, Shri P.P.Mitra presided. Other senior labour officers were present. From the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, almost all the unions/associations were represented. Officers from the DOT and BSNL including Sr GM (SR), GM (Estt.), GM(Admn) and GM(Restructuring) were present.
After self introduction by all, the Forum leaders were asked to present the case. The 20 point demands of the strike notice were very effectively presented by the Forum leaders. Almost all the comrades participated in presenting the issues.
The issue of refund of Rs. 6,700 crore for surrendered spectrum, Rs.1,250 due in lieu of ADC already allotted, the urgent need to procure equipments, making it mandatory for Central /State governments/PSUs to take BSNL connections, financial assistance to BSNL as assured at the time of corporatisation through ADC, refund of licence charges, compensation for loss making connections, liberal support from USO Fund, no to merger of BSNL and MTNL, no formation of tower company, need to merge BBNL with BSNL, Pension Revision, Pension contribution on the basis of actual pay instead of maximum of the pay scale, transfer of assets to BSNL, 78.2% IDA fixation for pensioners, 30% superannuation benefits to BSNL recruited employees etc.etc. were presented by the union leaders in a very effective way.
The Director who spoke on behalf of DOT only stated that efforts are being made to pay the refund of the spectrum charges of Rs.6,700 crore and the Rs. 1,250 crore in lieu of ADC. The Management representatives could not give any satisfactory reply on the demands.
The issues of the casual & contract workers were explained by the leaders of BSNLCCWF, who were also invited to the meeting on the strike notice issued for 21-22 April by the BSNLCCWF.
The CLC requested the Forum leaders to defer the two days strike in view of the conciliation and the information given by the DOT and BSNL management representatives.
Since there has been no progress on the issues, the question of deferment does not arise.
Full preparations are to be made for the complete success of the strike. The next meeting of the Forum will be held at 03.00 PM on 20th April 2015.
SAVE BSNL, SAVE NATION!
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