26 Friday Sep 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News
Tags
The CMD BSNL has issued an Appeal to all BSNL employees to donate to the J and K Relief fund by contributing one day basic salary as requested by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations.
Let all of us donate and make the Relief Collection successful.Let us Support the J and K people who are in distress.
22 Monday Sep 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Forum
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations met Sri A.N.Rai, CMD BSNL today, 22nd September, and discussed the following:
1. Though the Forum has given letter for deduction of one day salary towards J and K Relief Fund, so far no order has been issued by the BSNL C.O. Any delay will result in not deducting the amount from the salary of September. Since the relief is urgently required for the people of J and K, Com.Namboodiri asked the management to issue the orders immediately. CMD BSNL agreed and gave oral instructions for the same then and there.
2. The Minister Communications had issued statement that the Rs. 7,000 of Income Tax paid by the BSNL will be refunded and that Rs. 6794 crore will also be refunded towards the spectrum surrendered by BSNL. The Forum wanted that BSNL should take initiative to get these amounts early. The forum also demanded that the Rs.1250 crores allotted by the USOF for BSNL also should be got at the earliest.
CMD BSNL appreciated the efforts being made by the Forum and also said that BSNL Management is making all efforts for getting the refunds from Government. But he also pointed out that since there is dearth of funds for the government, it may adjust the refund towards the licence fee to be paid by the BSNL to the government.
The Forum is of the strong opinion that there should be no adjustment, but the refund should be made in cash so that BSNL can utilise the same for development and expansion.
20 Saturday Sep 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
I am giving below a report published in the “Economic Times”.
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has exhorted the finance ministry to hasten a pending Rs 7,000-crore income tax refund to Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) in a bid to revive the struggling state-run telecom company before its proposed merger with Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) next year.
In parallel, the Telecom Commission (TC) is taking steps to arrange an early Rs 6,794 crore refund for BSNL’s surrendered 4G airwaves coupled along with a waiver of microwave charges incurred annually by the state-run telco. At present, BSNL shells out nearly Rs 100 crore as royalty annually to DoT’s wireless planning cell (WPC) to provide microwave connectivity across the Northeast. TC is the highest decision making body in the DoT.
These revival measures were finalised at a recent BSNL review meeting chaired by telecom secretary Rakesh Garg, according to an internal DoT note seen by ET. “Reviving BSNL is DoT’s principal intent in the run-up to any merger discussions,” said a top department official who was present in this meeting.
DoT is known to be considering either de-listing state-run MTNL and then merging it into BSNL or listing the latter and finalising a merger swap ratio based on the valuation of the two state-run telecom companies, with the first being the more likely option.
In the immediate term, Garg has asked member (finance) in the Telecom Commission to clear the refund of BSNL’s licence fees and spectrum usage charges relating to its surrendered 4G airwaves at the earliest since the telco has only been refunded Rs 100 crore in 2014-15. This is after BSNL Chairman & Managing Director AN Rai, who was present at the review meeting, said the “refund was pending despite Cabinet approval earlier this year.”
The Cabinet had cleared a refund upwards of Rs 11,000 crore for BSNL and MTNL for their surrendered broadband wireless access (BWA 4G) spectrum. BSNL has relinquished its 4G airwaves in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
DoT is also exploring ways to boost BSNL’s revenue flows by leasing its countrywide tower assets. BSNL has 73,000 towers and currently earns a modest Rs 98 crore annually by leasing merely 3000 units. The revenue target for the next five years has been increased to Rs 1600 crore by leasing a larger proportion of its towers.
The government is trying to revive BSNL at time when the telco needs cash to upgrade its landline network. Over the next two years, plans are afoot to convert over 1 lakh BSNL landline exchanges into IP-enabled next-gen variants to support high-speed broadband services. The thrust on wired broadband is aimed at leveraging BSNL’s landline assets to boost data services, and in turn, offset a portion of the losses suffered by its landline business.
BSNL has been losing 1.4 lakh wireline customers every month. So much so, its landline customer base — now roughly 18.2 million – has shrunk by 40% over the past decade. (E.T)
13 Wednesday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, BSNLEU
BSNL workers have responded to the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations in a magnificent way. Reports have been received from many centres about the massive participation protesting against the retrograde and anti-BSNL recommendations of the m/s Deloittee committee. Tens of thousands of employees have participated all over India. The photos are published in the BSNLEU website and also website of other unions.
We are happy to note that the workers have understood the bitter attack that is going on against the BSNL and its employees. The recommendations of the committee should be thrown to the dustbin.Our hearty congratulations to the workers.
Next programme is the Lunch Hour demonstration in front of BSNL Corporate office on 21st August when the meeting of the Circle Heads is going to take place. We request all the unions to mobilise the maximum numbers in the demonstration.
11 Monday Aug 2014
Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, President BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF and Animesh Mitra Dy.GS BSNLEU and Vice-President, BSNLCCWF met Shri A.N.Rai, CMD BSNL on 11th August and discussed with him about the serious concern of the employees on the M/s Deloittee Committee recommendations on retrenchment of about 70,000 employees, engaging of executives on contract basis, centralising the SSA activities to circle, reducing 330 SSAs to a mere 167, discontinuing Sr.TOA cadre etc. A letter by Forum demanding a detailed discussion on the full report as also intimating the Forum decision to organise Lunch Hour Demonstration on 12th and 21st August was handed over to CMD. Another letter demanding immediate collection of Rs. 41 crore due from the private telecom companies for sharing of BSNL towers.
The issue of non-implementation of labour laws like minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. to the contract labour engaged in various SSAs was also raised with the CMD.
CMD assured to look in to all the matters and take necessary action.
10 Sunday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum
FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS
ORGANISE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION ON 12TH / 21ST AUGUST
The meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations held on 4th August 2012 has called upon the BSNL employees to organise massive lunch hour demonstrations at Circle and SSA levels on 12th August 2014 to express their mighty protest against the recommendations of M/s Deloittee Consultants, which includes retrenchment of about 70,000 non-executives, recruitment of executives on contract basis, reducing the 330 SSAs to 167 without any scientific basis, concentrating the powers on services, maintenance etc. at Circle from the SSAs etc. which are neither in the interests of the BSNL, its employees nor the customers.
It is to be noted that neither the BSNL Management who appointed the Consultant, nor the consultant itself, has taken the employees and their organisations, who are also important stake-holders, in to confidence before finalising the report. The Forum, the Unions and Associations, who are making all out efforts to improve the services and co-operating with the BSNL Management for improving the financial viability of the PSU have been completely sidelined, unlike in the past. Despite seeking for a copy of the report of the consultant and also a meeting with the CMD to discuss the matter, no response has been received from the management. Sorry to state, this is unbecoming of a management which wants the co-operation of the employees in running the company successfully.
Under the circumstances, the Forum has called upon the employees to organise protest demonstration on 12th August in SSAs and also Circles. The Protest Demonstration at BSNL C.O. will be held on 21st August, on which date the meeting of the Circle Heads will be held at Corporate Office to take decisions on the recommendations of the Consultant.
In the past, the united actions of the unions/associations had compelled the Government and the BSNL Management to scrap their proposals for disinvestment and also retrenchment through VRS, thus saving from deterioration as happened in some other PSUs. If the recommendations of the present consultant are accepted and implemented, BSNL and its employees will be in peril. Hence it is necessary that all the employees and their organisations should stand and protest as one, making the government and BSNL Management to understand that the employees are not to prepared to accept any anti-BSNL decisions.
• Organise Massive Demonstration on 12th August at Circle / SSA with massive participation.
• Organise Massive Demonstration at Corporate Office on 21st August.
• Let each and every employee participate in the Protest demonstrations to ensure success.
To General Secretaries of unions / Associations of BSNL. They are requested to direct their Circle/District Secretaries to jointly organise the programme successfully.
V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum.
09 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
2862 BSNL towers have been shared with different private telecom companies on rent for the last few years, in addition to those financed by USOF.
Rs. 41 crore arrears of rent are to be paid by the telecom companies as in May 2014.
It seems that the BSNL Management is sleeping over the bills, or is there any unholy connection of BSNL Management / top officers with the private companies as hinted by the Communication Minister himself in the Parliament ( as reported in the press).
We demand that the BSNL Management moves fast to recover the arrears as BSNL is in dire need of Funds.
09 Saturday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News
While the Lunch hour protest Demonstration called by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations against the retrograde and anti-worker recommendation of the Deloitte Committee will be held at SSA and Circle Levels on 12th August itself, the Demonstration at BSNL Corporate Office at Delhi will be organised on 21st August, on the day of the meeting of the Circle Heads, instead of on 12th August as decided earlier. This has been necessitated since the meeting of the Circle Heads scheduled for 12-13 August has been postponed to 21-22 August 2014.
04 Monday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, BSNLEU, Forum
The Meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations held today, 4th August 2014 has decided to organise massive demonstrations on 12th August at Corporate Office, Circles and SSAs against the anti-worker, anti-BSNL recommendations of the Consultant M/s Deloitte appointed by the BSNL to recommend on the financial viability and revival of BSNL. The recommendations are intended to retrench more than 70,000 non-executive employees, reducing the number of SSAs from 330 to 167, concentrating the work to Circle offices, engaging of Off Roll ( contract ) Executives etc. There will be no promotional prospects for the non-executives, and almost the same for the executives. Neither the Consultant, nor the BSNL Management has taken the employees or their unions/associations in to confidence in the matter, keeping these important shareholders completely in the dark. This seems to be a dark conspiracy. Naturally the employees are enraged. The decision of the Forum to organise mighty demonstrations on 12th August, when the meeting of the Heads of Circles is being held in Corporate Office, Delhi is most appropriate.
The Forum has already written to the management to furnish a full copy of the report and demanded discussion on the report. The Forum is seeking a meeting with the Communications Minister also.
The Joint Action Committee /Forum has earlier defeated such attacks on the workers like VRS and Disinvestment through united struggles. This time also it will be not be different. But unity and determination is a must. Let us meet each and every BSNL employee and prepare them for sustained struggles to achieve victory.
03 Sunday Aug 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU, Forum, Telecom
An Emergent Meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations will be held at 04.00 AM on 4th August 2014 at BSNL MS office, New Delhi to discuss about the report of the M/s Deloitte Consultants on the financial viability and revival of BSNL.
It is to be noted that neither the BSNL Management nor the consultants have taken the unions/associations in to confidence in appointment of Consultant, discussion or in finalising the recommendations. This is an arbitrary method entirely different from the past. The Unions/associations were given opportunity to discuss and present their views before the consultants, like M/s KPMG etc.
As per available reports on the recommendations, the same are against the workers. About 70,000 workers will be made surplus. Network, Transmission etc. will be shifted to circles from SSAs. 330+ SSAs will be reduced to just 167. Instead of recruitment, the roadmap is for outsourcing. It is recommended to close the Telecom Factories. Whether the report is for revival or for favouring the private companies to finish BSNL?
The meeting of the Heads of Circles is scheduled on 12-13 August 2014 to discuss the recommendations. Before that, the Forum has to meet and finalise its views and plan to safeguard the interests of the workers. There can not be any delay in the matter.
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