15 Tuesday Jan 2013
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The JTO LDCE examination now will be held on 2nd June 2013. The unions had to put much pressure on the management to get the orders issued. After long 12 years, now the examinations are going to be held. A number of vacancies exist and there is good scope for many comrades to pass. My hearty congratulations in advance!
10 Thursday Jan 2013
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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and Convener Joint Forum along with Com.K.G.jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, met Shri R.K.Upadhyay CMD BSNL and Sri K.C.G.K.Pillai, Director (Finance)and discussed about the fianancial viability of the BSNL and ways and means for improving the same. The union representatives impressed upon the CMD and Director (finance) the need for much pressure on the DOT/Government for urgently releasing the Rs. 1500 crore subsidy for rural service from USOF, exemption from payment of charges for excess spectrum with BSNL, refund of BWA spectrum charges etc. Further pressure to DOT for speedy approval of 78.2% IDA fixation was also mentioned. Both CMD and Director (Finance) assured that maximum efforts are being made in these respects.
10 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and Convener, Joint Forum along with Com.K.G.jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Shri N.K.Gupta, Director (CFA), BSNL on 10th January and discussed about the need for more equipments, especially modem for providing Broadband connections. The Unions also demanded that the DOT pensioners also be granted Broadband connections to DOT retirees on concessional rates as in the case of BSNL retirees. Director (CFA) accepted the suggestion and assured that this will be done.
10 Thursday Jan 2013
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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and Convener, Joint Forum along with Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General secretary, AIBDPA met Shri Kishore Kaushal Joint Administrator, USO Fund and discussed about the early payment of the USOF and DOT approved Rs. 1500 crore subsidy for BSNL for rural services. The unions demanded for early payment of the same. The Joint Administrator stated that since this is the first time that this kind of payment is made, some procedure formalities have to be observed. However he assured that the fund will be paid before 31st March 2013.
10 Thursday Jan 2013
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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Convener, Joint Forum along with Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Smt. Sadhana Dixit, Member (Finance) and discussed about the issues of 1) Early orders on 78.2% IDA fixation for BSNL employees, 2) Refund of BWA Spectrum to BSNL, 3) Exemption from charges for extra spectrum with BSNL and MTNL and 4) payment of Rs. 1500 crore to BSNL from USO Fund 5)Anomaly in Pension of those retired during the first ten months after the formation of BSNL ie. W.e.f. 01-10-2013 6) Minimum Pension to be raised from Rs. 3500 to Rs. 3880 and 7) Govt. pension to MTNL absorbed employees as in the case of BSNL absorbed employees. Member (Finance) assured that these issues will be positively considered.
Member (Finance) also kindly accepted our invitation to attend the Inaugural Session of the All India Conference of the All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) to be held at Kannur (Kerala) on 6-7 February 2013.
10 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
Orders have been issued by DPE vide No. F.No.2(70)/2008 – DPE (WC)-CIL-II/2013 dated 08-01-2013 increasing DA by 4.2% coming to a total DA of 71.5% w.e.f. 1st January 2013.
08 Tuesday Jan 2013
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CLC has fixed 1100 AM on 9th Janauary 2013 to continue the reconciliation meeting with BSNL Management and Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations on the issue raised by the JF in the agitation. In fact representation of DOT also is necessary for effective discussion.
08 Tuesday Jan 2013
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Leaders of the Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations met Additional Secretary, Telecom Miss. Rita Teaotia on 8th January 2013 and discussed the important issues facing the BSNL and MTNL and their workers.
1. 78.2% IDA Fixation to BSNL employees:
The Joint Forum representatives pointed out that though the agreement was made between the Joint Forum and BSNL Management in June 2012, the same is awaiting approval of the DOT for issue of orders and demanded early approval. They expressed their serious anxiety in the delay. AST stated that it is under the active consideration of the DOT and assured early decision.
2. Govt. Pension for MTNL employees:
JF demanded that MTNL absorbed employees also should granted pension under Rule 37A as is being paid to the BSNL absorbed DOT employees by the government. AST stated that a Pension Fund is created for the MTNL employees and that will solve the present problem. JF did not agree and reiterated their earlier demand. They further explained the justification for Government pension.
3. Immediate payment of Rs. 1500 crore to BSNL towards Rural Service:
4. The JF leaders requested AST to ensure that the Rs.1500 crore approved by DOT for BSNL from the USO Fund be paid to the BSNL at the earliest so that the PSU can utilise the same for expansion and development. Addl. Secretary assured that the process is in motion and it will be paid early.
5. Exempting BSNL and MTNL from payment of charges for extra spectrum:
The JF leaders pointed out the reports stating that BSNL and MTNL will have to pay more than Rs.11,000 crore as charges for additional spectrum allotted to them in excess of 4.4.Mhz. They requested that considering the fact that both the PSUs are in loss for the last few years and also the fact that they were being charged much more than the private companies, they may be exempted completely from payment. The AST stated that a cabinet note is being prepared in this connection.
6. Refund of BWA Spectrum:
The Forum representatives demanded that the PSUs be refunded the amount of BWA Spectrum charges paid by them, since the spectrum has already been surrendered. AST assured early action in the matter.
7. Non-filling up of posts of DGM, DE etc:
Thousands of posts of DGM, DE etc are not filled up causing loss to the officials due for promotion. These may be filled up immediately by promotion from the eligible officials. AST stated that the matter has already been brought to the notice of the BSNL management for necessary action.
8. Removal of anomaly in pension
The JF leaders pointed out the long delay in settlement of the anomaly of less pension to those BSNL employees who retired during the period October 2000 to June 2001 due to the conversion from CDA to IDA scale and demanded early orders. AST assured to examine the same favourably.
9. Minimum Pension to be made Rs. 3880 instead of Rs. 3,500
The present minimum pension as per government orders are only Rs. 3,500. Since the lowest salary in BSNL is Rs.7,760, the minimum pension should not be less than half of the same viz. Rs. 3,880. The AST agreed to take up the matter with government.
Com.M.K.Bagchi, Chairman, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener and other leaders of Joint Forum participated in the discussions. From BSNLEU and AIBDPA respectively, Coms. Swapan Chakraborty, AGS and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary participated.
06 Sunday Jan 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
BSNL has got about 2,70,000 workers out of which about 33,000 are those recruited / appointed by BSNL since its formation in 2000. Among them about 12,000 are JTOs, 10,000 TTAs and 11,000 RM, Sr.TOAs and others. Almost all those who were absorbed from DOT are likely to be retired by 2020-25. Naturally, the 32,000 BSNL recruited/appointed employees will be the back bone of the BSNL for a long time. What are the prospects of these young appointees who will be in serrvice for about 25-30 years more? Have they been given a good deal?
These new recruits are highly qualified and have got much aspiration for better pay scales, promotions and high quality work. Almost every official has got more academic qualifications than required for recruitment. They have joined the PSU with high hope.
But the treatment meted out to them is far below their expectation. For all the TTAs and Sr.TOAs recruited after 2000, no promotional examination for JTO has been conducted. It is more than 10 years.Despite the service eligibility has been got reduced from 10 to 7 years (the demand was for 5 Years), nobody has been able to appear since no examination was conducted on one reason or other.While the DOT recruited officials are eligible for Statutory Pension, BSNL recruited officials are only eligible for Contributory Pension Scheme, as usual for PSUs. GPF is changed to EPF. In the Wage Agreement w.e.f. 01-01-2007, the BSNL Management adamantly refused them 2.34 multiplication factor / 30% fitment to them resulting in loss of wage. Although the recognised union ensured protection of wages, but it was only limited to the time of agreement and not to subsequent changes,since the same was refused by the management. It is well understood that the Mnagement wanted to separate the newly recruited workers from the mainstream of unions to safe-guard the vested interests of the management.
These issues are most important to the new recruitees. The unions have a great responsibility in taking up these issues with utmost seriousness. BSNL Employees Union has taken upon these issues wih the management but is facing a stubborn rejection wall.
As I have pointed out in the Parliament March organised by the Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations as also in the meetings of Joint Forum, it is high time that these issues are focussed by the Joint Forum. Such problems may be in MTNL also.
I hope that there will be unanimity on these issues also so that strong pressure can be put on the management for settlement of these and other just demands of the New Recruitees/Appointees.
04 Friday Jan 2013
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The BSNL Management has issued orders for the conduct of the VI Membership Verification for electing the Recognised Union of Non-Executives in BSNL. The verification (polling ) will be on 16th April and the announcement of the results on 18th April 2013. Orders have also been issued for keeping in abeyance transfers of non-executive employees during the process of election. The orders are put in the BSNLEU website.
It is now time to meet each and every worker for getting full support in the verification. BSNLEU has done a lot of work and settled many issues and it will get the benefit.But maximum work and propaganda is necessary.
Myself, Coms. K.G.Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA and Swapan Chakroborty, AGS BSNLEU met Shri Neeraj Verma, GM(SR) today, 4th January and discussed generally about the condut of the verification. t o th
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