Category Archives: BSNLEU

Pay wages of BSNL contract workers with arrears

23 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

≈ 2 Comments

After implementation of VRS for 78569 employees by BSNL, the PSU has made good savings monthly. The salaries of February 2020 which was in pending for the employees will be shortly paid and by next month, the salary will be paid in time as per management’s statement. Well and good!

What about the wags of the contract workers which have not been paid for the last one year ? 10 workers have committed suicide unable to bear the pain of seeing their families starved. We demand the management that now the position of BSNL is improving, do not delay the payment of wages to the workers. The one year wages be paid at the earliest.

Corporate Office issues fresh instructions to tackle the situation that has arisen due to COVID-19

23 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

.
The BSNL Corporate Office has issued emergency instructions to tackle the situation that has arisen due to COVID-19. The highlights of these instructions are as follows:-

A control room is formed at Corporate Office with five senior level officers. Similar control rooms are to be opened in all circles.
Telecommunications being an essential service, telephone Exchanges, OFC networks, BTSs, BFC, MSC, DSAMs and OLTs, MPLS, etc., are to be maintained.
Staff on emergency duty should be provided with masks and sanitisers. Proper arrangement for water and soap should be made in all buildings.
In cities where lockdown is ordered, CSCs need not be operated.
In all other cities also, customers visiting CSCs are to be discouraged. Skeleton staff to be followed. Customers are to be encouraged for online payments.
Contingency fund is released to the circles. CGMs are empowered to utilise them.

BSNLEU appreciates the Corporate Management for issuing proper instructions to ensure maintenance of BSNL’s services and also safety of the employees. All circle and district unions are requested to ensure implementation of these instructions fully. CHQ also requests all the leaders and comrades to ensure that maintenance of our networks and provisioning of BSNL’s services are carried out effectively.
(BSNLEU Website)

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

≈ Leave a comment

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]

20th Birth Anniversary of BSNLEU on 22nd March 2020.

20 Friday Mar 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

(File Photo, Visakhapatnam Conference 22-3-2001)

BSNL Employees Union is completing 19 years of its fruitful existence on 22nd March 2020. It is BSNLEU’s 20th Foundation day.

BSNL Employees Union, the majority recognised union of the BSNL workers, was formed on 22nd March 2001, in the National Convention of eight telecom unions held at Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Com. E.Balanandan, President of CITU and one of the greatest working class leaders India has seen.

Though started with about 50,000 – 60,000 workers, it grew to be the biggest union in BSNL with more than one lakh workers, despite the fact that there was no recruitment and thousands were retiring every year. This was a herculean task, but the united team of the BSNLEU leadership made the ‘impossible in to possible.’

BSNLEU, as the recognised union separately, and also jointly with other unions, both executive and Non-executives, defeated the nefarious designs of the central government, both NDA and UPA, to disinvest BSNL, unbundle the precious copper cables and so on. BSNLEU took the initiative to form the Joint Forum of the Unions and Associations, under which organisation, the battles were fought and the anti-worker decisions of the government defeated.

BSNL and its workers are  facing serious challenges to their existence. The neo-liberal policy initiated by the Congress government in 1991 and aggressively being implemented by  the present BJP government is making it difficult for the PSUs to sustain and grow. In the name of Revival Plan, 78569 employees have been compelled to take VRS in BSNL. Their many problems are there.  4 G Spectrum is still not allotted.Pension Revision is also delayed, without any justification.

The two associations, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF formed at the initiative of BSNLEU has grown and strengthened. But the wages for the contract workers have not been paid for about one year. The demands of the workers, the pensioners and the casual contract labours are interconnected and inseparable. That is why united struggle.

It is in this situation that the  20th Foundation Day of BSNLEU  is coming. This time, there may not be much celebration, meetings etc on mass scale, due to the COVID -19 impact. But let us remember our past struggles and sacrifices so that we can advance with more vigour, determination and strength. BSNL has to be saved and improved to give better service to the nation!

BSNLEU ZINDABAD!

WORKERS UNITY ZINDABAD!

 

Allot 4G Spectrum to BSNL, Launch Services !

19 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

“BSNL’s 4G service.

In the budget for 2020-21, Government has made provision for allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and the same can be allotted to BSNL in May,2020. However, BSNL will not take the 4G spectrum immediately, since equipments will be ready for launching 4G service only after March, 2021. For 4G spectrum, BSNL has to pay Rs.5.5 crore, per day, as licence fee, even if BSNL does not use it. Hence, it is not wise to take the 4G spectrum, before the equipments are ready.

BSNL is already having 40,000 3G BTSs, which are 4G compatible. All these 40,000 BTSs can be upgraded to 4G BTSs, by which BSNL can immediately launch it’s 4G service. However, BSNL is experiencing certain difficulties in this regard. BSNL has to pay around Rs.2,000 crore as outstanding dues to the vendors of these BTSs, viz., Nokia, ZTE and Erricsson. Apart from that, Nokia is demanding a sum of Rs.3.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 13,000 BTSs supplied by them. Whereas, ZTE is demanding a sum of Rs.7 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 24,000 BTSs supplied by them. Since the rates are extremely high, BSNL is presently not in a position to upgrade these BTSs, for providing 4G service.” (BSNLEU Website)

The statement of the CMD BSNL as given in the brief of the discussions by the Unions/Associations with the CMD BSNL with regard to allotment of 4G Spectrum is given above. The CMD is stating that the 4G service will be ready for launching by March 2021 only ie. after one year.

This is unacceptable. One more year of delay for 4G services will further benefit the private telcos only and BSNL will suffer. Why can’t BSNL get the 4G Spectrum earlier and launch it? The excuses put by the management is untenable.

BSNL should pay wage and wage arrears to Contract workers.

19 Thursday Mar 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

≈ 2 Comments

Contract workers engaged in BSNL are not paid wages for about one year. They are lowest paid workers and manage their needs by the wages they receive. About 10 comrades have committed suicide unable to face the agony of their families without food. The education of their children are discontinued. The situation is very pathetic.

To a question in the Parliament, Minister for Communications, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad had stated that the contract workers are not employees of BSNL and are engaged by contractors. He added that contractors have been paid money. This is completely wrong. Contract workers are doing the work of BSNL and BSNL is paying the wages through contractors. Hence the responsibility of payment of wages is with BSNL. The contractors are contradicting the statement of the Minister that they have been paid by BSNL.

The central govt and BSNL who have already engaged the contract worker through contractor and had got the work done for the last one year have also got the responsibility to pay them.

BSNL has assured  the Unions/Associations that their salary arrears of one month will be paid by 31st March 2020. What about contract workers?

BSNL and Govt should ensure payment of the contract workers also by 31st March with out fail.

BSNL adds more customers than Jio in December, 2019.

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU, Telecom

≈ Leave a comment

Ever since entering into the telecom market in September, 2016, Reliance Jio has been adding the maximum number of customers every month. However, in December, 2019, BSNL has beaten Reliance Jio. BSNL has added 4,27,089 customers in December, 2019, while Reliance Jio has added only 82,000 new customers. Vodafone has lost a whopping 35 lakh of it’s existing customers and Airtel has lost 11,000 customers, during the same period. This is the impact of all the private companies raising their tariff by 40% in December, 2019. BSNL has not raised it’s tariffs.

[Date : 26 – Feb – 2020 BSNLEU Website]

Suicide by BSNL employee due to non-payment of salary.

15 Saturday Feb 2020

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

≈ Leave a comment

 

The entire BSNL fraternity is extremely sad to hear the tragic news of the suicide of Com. Ramesh Kumar Sondhiya, Asst. Telecom Technician, Jabalpur on 12th February. He was only 37 years old.  It is understood that he took the extreme step due to non-receipt of salary for the last two and half months and unable to cope up with the stress and financial difficulty. Already 8 BSNL contract workers have committed suicide due to non-receipt of wages for several months. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

We demand the government and BSNL to immediately pay the salaries of the employees and the wages of the contract workers. The authorities are fully responsible for these tragic deaths.

 

 

AIBDPA Calls for sustained agitation on pension issues

08 Saturday Feb 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment

URGENT CIRCULAR
07-02-2020.
To
All CHQ office bearers Circle Secretaries and Affiliates.
Dear Comrade,
In most of the circles, the first two phases of the agitational programs,box
Signature campaign in the memorandum to the Prime Minister and meeting the Parliament Members are successfully completed and congratulate all the Comrades for their sincere efforts. It should be ensured that the memorandum with signatures be sent directly to the Prime Minister by post.
Those circles/ districts who have not yet started or completed this important task has to do it urgently.
It is significant that Shri.Rupin Bora, Rajya Sabha MP from Assam who is the President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has raised the issue of Pension Revision with 15% fitment in the upper house on 04-02-2020. Our Comrades have already met more than 100 MPs, including 4 ministers and the Lok Sabha Speaker and all responded positively.
HUNGER DHARNA AT CCA OFFICES ON 12-02-2020.
Please make necessary arrangements for conducting the Hunger Dharna before the CCA offices on 12-02-2020 with maximum participation of pensioners. Special efforts may be made to participate maximum number of VRS retirees.Also try to participate prominent leaders at Circle/ local level of trade unions and Pensioners Associations and address the Dharna.
JOIN THE AUAB AGITATIONS.
AUAB,in its meeting held on 06-02-2020 has decided two programs,
1. Lunch hour Demonstration on 11-02-2020.
2. Hunger Strike on 24-02-2020.
We have to join the program to make it a great success.
ISSUES OF VRS RETIREES.
CHQ is dealing the issues of the VRS retirees seriously with due importance. Our meeting with Member (Finance) on 16-12-2019 for grant of Provisional Pension is being considered favourably and order is expected shortly. The second issue discussed during the meeting , posting of retired staff at CCA offices for additional work due to mass VRS, also has been resolved.
Let us assure them that AIBDPA is committed to deal their issues effectively and they would be secure in AIBDPA, whatever may be the issues. Please do not hesitate to contact CHQ for any issue of the VRS retirees.
PARLIAMENT MARCH ON 12-03-2020.
The culmination of the agitational programs should give a strong message to the government. Therefore maximum participation from each Circle should be ensured.Holi falls on 10th March and without any hindrance to Holi celebration, our Comrades from North India could participate in the Parliament March on 12 th March.
Circle Secretaries have to urgently send the arrival/departure details of participants from the Circle to enable CHQ to arrange accommodation for those coming from distant circles. CHQ will provide accommodation for one day, either 11-12 or 12-13 March, as the case may be.
Comrades, please get in touch with the district Secretaries and motivate them for the successful implementation of the agitational programs.
Let us be proud to be part of the great organizational responsibility.
With warm greetings,

K G Jayaraj
General Secretary.

This entry was posted in Uncategorized on February 8, 2020.
THIRUVANANT

AIBDPA meet M.P.s on Pension Revision – 100 M.P.s already met

08 Saturday Feb 2020

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

≈ Leave a comment

The Campaign of meeting the M.P.s for taking up the issue of Pension Revision with Government is getting fine response from the Circle, District and Branch units. It is reported that 100 M.P.s of various political parties have already been met, who have assured the AIBDPA representatives that they will take up the case with the government. One of the M.P.s Shri Rupin Bora from Assam, who is also the State Congress President, has raised the issue in the Parliament with the important points and demanded immediate Pension Revision for BSNL Pensioners. We expect many others also to take up the matter.

Next programme of agitation is Dharna in front of CCAs on 12th February. Make it a success with massive participation.