We have to congratulate both the BSNL Management and the Unions for the starting of the wage negotiations for non-executives in BSNL. The first meeting was held today. Continuous sittings of the meeting is necessary for an early agreement. Best Wishes!

At last, after a lapse of more than one and half years, the wage negotiation for BSNL non-executives starts tomorrow. Sustained agitational programmes were organised, including strike, to compel the Management and the DOT to agree for negotiation, who were refusing the same on the plea that BSNL is in loss for the last three years. But at last the BSNL management has conceded for discussion and DOT had also given approval. Hard bargain is unavoidable. The representatives from the staff side are eight with five from BSNLEU and three from NFTE.

Let us hope for a good agreement.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is consistently conducting struggles, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The question of taking recourse to legal action, against the Subsidiary Tower Company, was discussed in the meetings of the AUAB. Finally, in the meeting held on 08.05.2018, after threadbare discussion, the AUAB decided to file a case in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Due to certain tactical reasons, it was decided that the case shall be filed in the name of the Executive Associations, and that all the constituents of the AUAB shall extend financial support. Accordingly, the case has been filed, and it came up for hearing today in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. The Hon’ble Court admitted the case, and it also stated that the operation of the Subsidiary Tower Company shall be subject to the out come of this case. The next hearing of the case will take place on 25.09.2018.(courtesy: BSNLEU)

[Date : 25 – May – 2018]

The AUAB has given call to conduct Street Corner meetings, from 7th to 11th May,2018. CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon the circle and district unions, to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB, and to successfully conduct this week-long campaign. The main purpose of this campaign is to go to the people and tell them about the anti-BSNL and anti-Public Sector policies being adopted by the government. Main focus of this campaign should be the issue of Subsidiary Tower Company. The government’s game-plan, to kill BSNL by breaking it to pieces, through formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company, should be well explained to the people. Flex banners carrying slogans against Subsidiary Tower Company should be displayed prominently, throughout the campaign. (BSNLEU Website)

The CEC meeting held at Agartala, noted with serious concern that, the BSNL Management is on an outsourcing spree. Each and every work, including those works which can be done by our employees, are being outsourced. May be “some quarters” are getting benefitted out of these outsourcings. It is an undeniable fact that huge money of the Company is going into the drain, due to these outsourcings. This has got to be stopped. So far as the Non-Executive cadres are concerned, Direct Recruitment is being made only in the JE cadre. But, no recruitment is being made in the cadre of Sr.TOA, even though acute shortage is there, due to large scale retirements. Hence, the Company has to go in for direct recruitment in the cadre of Sr.TOA. A lot of wasteful expenditures are severely affecting the finance of the Company. BSNLEU has already drawn the attention of the CMD BSNL, as well as the Director(Finance) on this count. We learn that recently, four officers from the Corporate Office, have visited Sri Lanka, in connection with a cricket match. This only shows that the top Management is in no mood to curtail wasteful expenditures. Instead, the Management tries to curtail the existing medical facilities of the employees, in the name of overcoming the financial crisis. The Agartala CEC meeting has decided to give a detailed note to the Management, demanding the curtailment of these wasteful expenditures. The Corporate Office has recently given an instruction to the CGMs to substantially reduce the number of the contract workers. Immediately, this may result in some savings. But, in the long run, this will seriously affect the quality of our services, since the contract workers are largely engaged for maintenance works. In view of the foregoing, the Agartala CEC meeting has decided to conduct a “Call Attention Day” on 03.05.2018. Lunch hour demonstrations will be conducted throughout the country on that day, by wearing black badges. The following are the demands for the “Call Attention Day”.

Stop the mad rush for outsourcing works.
Curtail wasteful expenditures of the Company.
Do not curtail the medical facilities of the serving and retired employees.
Do not retrench the contract workers.
Conduct fresh recruitment in the cadre of Sr.TOA. (Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Massive demonstration took place on 27th March before Sanchr Bhawan participated by a large number of workers as per the call of the AUAB against the move of the government to form the Tower Company w.e.f. 01-04-2018. All the comrades were arrested, but released in the evening.

Congratulations to the comrades for organising the Sanchar Bhawan March and expressing our strong protest.