04 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in BSNLEU
The Department of Public Enterprises( DPE) has issued orders on 3rd August 2017 for Pay Revision of executives accepting the recommendations of the III Pay Revision Committee. (This is put in the website of BSNLEU)
The report as well as the order is retrograde and will deny pay revision for many PSUs. BSNL Employees had organised one day strike on 27th July 2017 demanding immediate pay revision. Struggles will have to be continued for wage revision in BSNL.
04 Tuesday Jul 2017
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU
I am herewith quoting a report received from Com. Naresh Lal, CS, BSNLEU Jharkhand and leader of BSNLCCWF on a successful negotiation on the payment of wages to contract workers. The Dy CLC directed the BSNL management to pay Rs. 60,24,282 as wages to workers within three months. Our Hearty congratulations to the workers and leaders of Jharkhand.
“On 23.06.2017 a tripartie meeting held in the chamber of the Dy CLC(Central) Dhanbad amongst BSNL Dainik Bhogi Mazdoor Sangh Jharkhand
under leadership of Com Bhawan Singh the President of Union, BSNL Management Jharkhand represented by the Superintending Engineer
(Electrical) and Executive Engineer (Electrial) and the Labour Department.
This meeting was held to decide wage payment and also less wage payment to contract workers in Electrical wing in Jharkhand .
A claim for Rs. 60,24,282/- (Sixty lac twenty four thousand two hundred and eighty two) was raised for which management wanted a time slot for six months which was denied by the Dy CLC and granted three months to pay wage arrears and also difference of already paid less wage . Retrenchment two workers in Ranchi SSA was also raised which could not be discussed because non representation of the GMT BSNL Ranchi SSA. For this another date ,10.07.2017 , was fixed with intimation to the GMT Ranchi SSA .”
25 Sunday Jun 2017
The decision of BSNLEU to hold an All India Women’s Convention on 8th July 2017 at Hyderabad is to be appreciated. Telecom / BSNL have a large number of women employees. Being an operational service functioning through out 24 hours, women have their own special problems. Women comrades are very active in the organisation also. As such holding an All India Convention and forming a Women’s Committee will help the services, women themselves and also the organisation.
In this connection, I remember the holding of the first Women’s Convention in Kerala organised by the then E.III Union, Kerala Circle. The decision was taken in the Circle Conference held at calicut where a Mahila Session was organised. The Mahila Convention was held at Trichur on 28th October 1978. I was the Circle Secretary. When the proposal to hold the Mahila Convention was presented, many comrades felt that the participation will be very less and hence it was decided that at least two comrades from each division should participate. But what happened was a surprise. About 500 women comrades participated. The discussion was lively and the major demands of the women workers were identified and put in the form of a Charter. A Mahila Committee was also formed. Com.Suseela Gopalan, CPI(M) leader and M.P., Com.Rosamma Punnose, N.P.Padmanabhan, Convener of P&T Co-ordinating Committee, D.R.Mahajan, CGM and others participated. ( for further details, please read ‘ P&T TU Movement in Kerala by Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan).
The Mahila Committee met the Chief General Manager and presented the Charter of Demands and explained the demands. Most of the demands were agreed to by the CGM. Convenient dormitories, Creches, Rest room for ladies and other arrangements were made in almost all the exchanges and offices as per the demand.
The Mahila Committe still functions effectively in Kerala circle. Such committees function in some other circles also. But it is for the first time that a special meeting of the women is being organised at All India level with the intention of forming an All India Mahila Committee. This is welcome decision and will help in organising the women and taking up their problems.
24 Saturday Jun 2017
Posted in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes
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With deep sorrow and sadness it is intimated that Comrade D.Nagamanyam, one of the senior leaders of the P and T Trade union movement, passed away at Hyderabad at 11.20 hours today, 24th June 2017.He was admitted to the hospital about one week back. Com. Nagamanyam was ailing for some time. He was 72.
Com. Nagamanyam was one of the leaders, who along with Com.M.N.Reddy, P.Asokababu, J.Sampat Rao and others built up a strong union, both E.III and BSNLEU in A.P.Circle and especially Hyderabad. He played a very important role in the 1991 Bhopal AIC, as Polling Officer, in conducting the elections in a fair and democratic way, which ensured the election of the progressives headed by Coms. Moni Bose and V.A.N.Namboodiri. He organised the Line Staff Union and also BSNLEU. He was a dedicated leader, who had to face severe victimisation from the government and the management. His simple way of living, intimacy with the workers, ever-readiness to attend to the problems of the workers – all made him very dear to the movement and the grass root workers.
When I last met him at a meeting at Hyderabad, which he attended despite physical hardship, I never knew that it will be meeting him for the last. We exchanged pleasantries and enquired about health, family etc. We also remembered the many times, when we attended meetings in Hyderabad and nearby places under very hard and difficult times building up the organisation.
In his death, BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF and AIBDPA has lost a valiant fighter and leader. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades!
17 Saturday Jun 2017
Posted in BSNLEU
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The decision of the Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU held at Thiruvananthapuram to name the hall in K.G.Bose Bhawan, New Delhi as ‘Com.S.R.Nayak Memorial Hall’ is appropriate and appreciable. It is not only to respect the feeling of the M.P.Circle who gave Rs. 15 lakh donation, but also is a tribute to the great leader, who spent his entire life for the organisation and defending the rights of the telecom workers.
Since the latter half of the 1970s, I had close contact with Com. S.R.Nayak, the rebel leader of the M.P.Telecom circle. In the various all India Conferences of the AITEE Union Class III ( E.III Union in short), we were part of the same group fighting for correct policy and democratic functioning in the union, under the leadership of Com.K.G.Bose and later Com. Moni Bose. He had to face severe harassment and punishments both from the circle union as well as the Department for his union activities.
In the historic Bhopal All India Conference of E.III Union in 1991, he was elected as the Asst General Secretary. He was elected as the Circle Secretary of E.III Union and later as Circle Secretary of the BSNLEU M.P.Circle, in which post he continued for years.
In all the struggles he was in the forefront. He was a fighter and continued as such. He organised and brought many active workers and leaders for the organisation. I have close connection with him for more than four decades. We have toured the undivided M.P.Circle more than once in connection with the membership Verification in the early period.
He left us forever on 8th August 2013 at a Delhi Hospital, where he was under treatment for some weeks.
It is a real tribute to Com. SR Nayak to name the Hall in the K.G.Bose Bhawan as ‘Com.S.R.Nayak Memorial Hall’.
16 Friday Jun 2017
Posted in BSNLEU
More than two lakh BSNL Employees have got the right to get wage revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017. It can not be denied on the basis of no-profit or loss. BSNL is a fully government owned company and its activities are based on the government decisions. It is implementing the social objectives of Connecting India, providing connections in lakhs of villages, where no private companies will dare to come since the connections are provided causing huge losses.
Further due to the efforts of the workforce and the management, the losses has gone down. For the last two years, there is operational profit. Loss accounted due to depreciation of the large assets of the company can not be a reason for the denial of wage revision.
BSNL Management has already brought these and other points to the notice of the DOT. But no guidance has been recived so far to start wage negotiations. There is no doubt that serious united struggles will have to be organised for achieving results. The agitational programmes, including the One Day Strike on 27-07-2017 called for by Unions/Associations has to be fully participated and made successful as the answer to the delay in wage revision.
19 Friday May 2017
Posted in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes, Uncategorized
19th May 2017 is the 7th death anniversary of Com. Moni Bose, veteran P&T TU leader and former Patron of BSNL Employees Union. He became the General Secretary of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III in the historical Bhopal All India Conference in 1991. He was terminated from service in connection with the 1949 proposed strike and was never reinstated. His entire life was spent for working and leading struggles for the interest of the workers.
I have close connection with him since 1960s till his death. At Bhopal Conference, he was elected as General Secretary and myself as President. In the next AIC at Thiruvananthapuram in 1994, he was elected as President and myself General Secretary. He resigned the post in 1996 to abide by the government recognition rules that at least one of the President or General Secretary should be a working employee. Both of us were retired. It was with much reluctance that the CWC accepted his resignation and elected Com. K.D.M.Tripathi as President. Whether he was in any post or not, he was the beloved leader of all the comrades.
Last month, while at Calcutta, I had the opportunity to meet the families of both Com.K.G.Bose and Com.Moni Bose. Com.Jyotsna Didi and other family members were very happy and we had our breakfast together.
On his 7th death anniversary we pay our homage to Com. Moni Bose! Red Salute to Comrade!
16 Tuesday May 2017
Posted in BSNLEU, Wage Revision BSNL - 2017
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Despite the fact that the recognised unions in BSNL have been continuously demanding for wage negotiation to start, the DPE has not given any direction to the DOT/BSNL for the same. This is completely unacceptable.
Already it is more than 10 years after the last wage revision in 2007. As per the last agreement, the next wage revision is to take place from 01-01-2017. The report of the III Pay Revision Committee for the Executives is already released months back.
Even after starting the negotiations, it will take some time for the wage settlement. Why the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the Central Government is keeping silence over the issue. Strong protest should erupt against this injustice!
03 Wednesday May 2017
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I have been away to Kolkata to attend the Circle Conference of AIBDPA Kolkata Circle as also meeting at Telecom Factory and at CTO building (W.Bengal Circle) during the period 25th to 29th April 2017. The conference and meetings were well attended and I addressed them. The latest developments were explained to the employees, pensioners and casual contract workers.
I could utilise the stay in Kolkata during this period to meet some of the veteran senior leaders of the trade union movement. Com. Sisirda, the senior most leader of P&T employees, who is 97 at present, came to the meeting in the Telecom Factory and addressed the workers. Even at this age he is active and we discussed about the latest developments. A copy of the AIBDPA Tirupati AIC Souvenir with my article on Sisirda was handed over to him.
On 26th evening along with Coms. Saibal Sen Gupta, Circle Secretary BSNLEU and Biplab Das, Secretary Co-ordination Committee, I went and met Com. Sukomal Sen, former Secretary General All India state Government Employees Federation and a former M.P. He was not well and is under treatment at home. He was happy to meet all of us and we discussed his health problems and other issues.
On 28th April, along with Coms. Pabitra Chakraborty and Arindo Rai, Asst. Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Kolkata Circle, I visited Com. R.L.Bhattacharjee, Patron, NCCPA at his residence which is about 30 miles away from Kolkata. He is almost bedridden and unable to move out. We had about one hour discussion on the various issues of the pensioners etc.
On 29th morning I went to the residence of late Comrade Moni Bose to meet Com. Jyotsna Bose who is not well. She used to attend all the meetings earlier. I could meet both the families of Coms. K.G.Bose as well as Moni Bose. Com. Babu (s/o KG Bose) and family had visited Kerala last month and he was very happy that all arrangements have been made for his stay etc. by Com.K.Mohanan, CS BSNLEU and other comrades. I had lunch from there and spoke with all the family members.
Com.Ananta Bhattacharjee, President of AIBDPA and a veteran leader was present in the AIBDPA Kolkata Conference and along with Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General secretary, we could discuss some important issues.
During the stay there, I addressed the SNEA comrades, sitting on Hunger strike in Telephone Bhavan as per decision of CHQ demanding settlement of their demands.
This tour to Kolkata was successful,especially in that I could meet the senior leaders. All the circle Secretaries of BSNLEU, Coms. Animesh Mitra (WB), Saibal Sen Gupta (Kolkata), Om Prakash Singh (TF) and Adhir Kumar Sen (TS) along with Com. Biplab Das, Mihir Dasgupta, Swastika Dasgupta, Sandib Banerjee, Pijush Chakraborty, Supriyo Mitra, Arindo Rai, Amitab Chatterjee, senior leaders Comrades Dilip Das, Prabir Dutta, Gouri Haldar – all helped me in duties assigned to me. I could not meet Coms. Tapas Ghosh and Tapos Banerjee, leaders of BSNLCCWF due to their being out of station to attend meetings.
All these comrades are functioning under great strain due to the special situation in W.Bengal. My Congratulations to all of them for their great tradition and committed service to the organisation.
W.
07 Friday Apr 2017
Posted in BSNLEU
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A new achievement by BSNL – Added 29.5 lakh mobile customers in March, 2017.
BSNL has once again did the wonder. It has added 29,52,251 new mobile customers in the month of March, 2017. This may be the highest number of mobile connections given by BSNL in any month. It is very important to note that BSNL has made this achievement, in the face of cut-throat competition from Reliance Jio. Gujarat has come first, by adding 2,82,982 new mobile customers. UP (East) circle has come second, by adding 2,54,542 new mobile customers. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the entire Non-Executives and Executives of BSNL, as well as the Management, for making this achievement. (BSNLEU Website)
