Category Archives: BSNLEU

Govt. should be compelled to pay the dues to BSNL

15 Sunday May 2016

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The membership verification is over and  BSNLEU and NFTE have been declared as the Main and Second recognised union respectively. The most important task at present is wage revision. However, another issue also is to taken with immediately. That is about the dues the central government have to pay to BSNL.

Since the verification campaign and other processes were going on for the last two months, proper focus could not be paid to the above issue. BSNL is in difficulty to procure equipment for expansion of services, while the private companies have got much funds either through loans, FDI etc. If the dues to BSNL from government is paid it will solve the problem to a certain extend and the company will post profit also.

The following are dues to BSNL from the government:

  1. About Rs. 6,000 crore towards refund of charges for spectrum surrendered by BSNL years back.
  2. Rs. 1,250 crores allotted by USO Fund for loss making connections, two years back.
  3. About Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 crores towards income tax refund.

Strong protest and agitation are  required to get the dues of BSNL for its expansion and modification. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives have to urgently focus on these.

 

The Tasks after Membership Verification in BSNL

14 Saturday May 2016

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The result of the Membership Verification in BSNL is declared. Total voters are 1,63,820. Polled votes 1,53,840.. BSNLEU have received 81,195 votes with 49.56% of total votes (52.77% of polled votes). NFTE received 31.97 of total votes(34.03% of polled votes). FNTO 8,697 with 5.31% of total and 5.65 of polled votes. BTEU, 4,846 total votes and 2.96% of total and 3.15% of polled votes. BSNLEU and NFTE will get recognition as the Main and Second Union. Other two will get limited trade union facilities.

In the National, Circle and SSA Councils, BSNLEU will get 9 seats and NFTE 5 seats as per proportionate to the votes polled. No other union will be eligible for seats, since their percentage is less than the eligible 7%.Thus there is no change in the allocation of seats from the last Council. The recognition orders and number of seats in the councils are yet to be released by the BSNL Corporate Office.

There are certain immediate tasks to be attended to in connection with the Verification:

1. The recognised union/s represent the entire workers, whether members or non-members of any union. As such they are eligible to nominate any worker to the National/Circle/SSA Council. The present arbitrary condition put by the Management that the nomination should be from the members of the particular recognised union is in violation of this common principle. Whether it is in Parliament or State Assembly, the ruling party has the authority to nominate any M.P. or MLA as Minister. It is with other elected bodies also.This basic principle can not be violated by BSNL Management. Till VII Membership Verification, such nominations from other unions were made and accepted. This practice should be restored. The plea of the Management that there is a court case pending is not acceptable, since the court has not directed the management not to accept such nominations. The only thing that the management has to do is to intimate the Court that it want to continue the earlier practice.

2. The National Council should be headed by CMD and all the Directors should be Members. This will facilitate quick decisions on the spot. This is the system in the National Council of CG Employees and was the system in the National JCM of DOT, where the Secretary DOT will be Chairman and all Members of Telecom Commission as Members.

2. The Standing Committee, which is to be held every two months to review the issues discussed in the National Council and pending, should be held regularly. This Committee should be headed by the Director (HR) to ensure decisions.

3. Those issues on which agreement could not be reached should be referred to arbitration or some such arrangements to be made.

4. At least one of the Directors of BSNL Board should be from the recognised union/s. This is part of the Workers’ Participation in Management. In a company which has got priority for customer satisfaction, this is very much necessary. In Nepal Telecommunications, one Director is nominated by the recognised union.

5. The Leader and Secretary of the Councils should be elected democratically. The present arbitrary decision of management that Leader and Secretary should be from BSNLEU and NFTE respectively or vice-versa is against the democratic principle. No such arbitrary decision is in the National Council JCM. No such restrictions were in BSNL National/Circle/SSA councils also till the VI Membership Verification. The Leader and Secretary are to be elected by the Staff Side only and not by Management.
6. Recognition Rules should be changed so that the % of votes are calculated on the polled votes, as in the case of Parliament, Assembly, Corporation Councils etc., instead of total votes, as being wrongly calculated in BSNL Membership Verification.

The above issues need to be discussed and settled.

In addition, the important problems like Wage, Revision, Bonus, 5 Promotions, Stagnation, Issues of BSNL appointed employees etc. are to taken up for settlement on a priority basis.

Membership Verification Results – An Analysis

12 Thursday May 2016

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According to tentative information, the votes received by the major unions in the Membership Verification and the % of votes to the total votes are given below:
BSNLEU 81,195 ( 49.56%), NFTE 52,367 (31.97%), FNTO 8697 (5.31%) BTEU 4846 (2.95%). BSNLEU got about 1% more than the VI Membership Verification.
As per this votes and %, neither FNTO nor BTEU is eligible for any seats in the councils. BSNLEU and NFTE will share the seats. As per the votes received by these unions, BSNLEU will get 9 seats and NFTE 5 seats out of the total 14 seats.
The final list of votes, % etc. is expected to be issued by the Election Officer by tomorrow.

Why Vote for BSNLEU in the VII Membership Verification?

09 Monday May 2016

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The VII Membership Verification is to take place tomorrow, 10th May 2016. Each vote is important and is part of the democratic process for electing the Recognised Union/s. There are 19 unions in the contest, but they are mainly in three / four alliances. Most of the employees might have already decided about their choice of union. But still, there are a few workers, who may have not taken their final decision.

In this verification we have been asking the workers to vote for BSNL Employees Union in Ballot No.9, Cell Phone Symbol. Why vote for BSNLEU?

  1. BSNLEU is the union which during the last 15 years since formation of BSNL had campaigned for strengthening BSNL, the telecom PSU, united all the unions under JAC/JF/Forum and took initiative for the mighty struggles against the wrong policies of the government and ensured that BSNL survives and flourishes.
  2. BSNLEU is the architect of the two excellent wage revisions, in 2000 and 2007 respectively, which benefited the employees immensely and got reasonable wages.
  3. BSNLEU never compromised on the demands of the workers, but fought and got the justified demands in many issues.
  4. BSNLEU is the only recognised union in the PSUs, which demanded for the recognition of a second union and proportionate representation. NFTE got recognition only on the demand of BSNLEU.
  5. BSNLEU got implemented many new demands like NEPP, Group Insurance, Gift of HMT Watch, Bank Loans, regular conduct of examinations, reservation for SC/ST employees, Change of designations etc. etc. which the earlier recognised federations could not think of even demanding.

What are the main issues to be settled after verification?

  1. Wage Revision from 2017. Wage Revision after every 5 years instead of existing 10 years. This was demanded in the last wage negotiation. But since 10 year wage revision was already implemented for executives, the management did not agree. This time it should be ensured.
  2. Five Promotions. Each Promotion after every five years. This will mainly benefit the new recruitees having about thirty years of service before them.
  3. Five Days Week. This demand was raised at the time of the First Wage Negotiation, but was kept pending. Corporate office is functioning 5 days, Central Govt. employees are having 5 days week, MNCs are having  5 days week, some of the state government employees as in Rajasthan are having five days week, most of the private companies in metro cities work for five days. It is time  that this issue is raised once again which will give some relief to all, especially the women workers. Half an hour working can be increased on working days and rotation duties brought for Customer Service and other important operational functions, thus without affecting the service to the customers.
  4. Immediate action to be taken to remove stagnation of low paid employees, RM, TM etc.  by implementation of increment every year either through stagnation increment or open end pay scale etc.
  5. Payment of Minimum Bonus of Rs. 7,500. 
  6. 78.2% IDA Fixation for pre-June 2013 pensioners
  7. Restoration of LTC, Medical Allowance etc.
  8. Minimum Wage Rs. 18,000 for contract workers as demanded by 11 Central Trade Unions
  9. Reducing the service condition to Five Years to appear in examinations. This demand taken by BSNLEU is already implemented in the case of JTO examination. This should be extended to all the other examinations.
  10. Recruitment should be made in all cadres to ensure that young and talented workers for the more than 1,50,000 vacancies due to retirement during the last 15 years since formation of BSNL. This can be done by regularising the casual/contract workers, compassionate appointment by removing the 5% restriction etc and also by direct recruitment.
  11. Defined Pension for the BSNL Appointees. At present, the new recruitees of BSNL are deprived of defined pension as in the case of BSNL absorbed DOT employees. This is gross discrimination and injustice. This should be changed by granting defined pension to new recruitees.   In the meantime,30% supernumerary benefits should be implemented for them.
  12. The Government should support BSNL as per its assurance at the time of formation of the PSU. It should immediately refund to BSNL the Income Tax refund of Rs. 8,000-10,000 crore, refund the Spectrum charges coming to about Rs. 6,000 crore and pay the Rs.1,250 crores granted by the USO Fund for compensating the loss making connections provided in the rural areas.
  13. Ensure reservations in recruitment, promotion and in all respects to the SC/ST employees as provided in the Constitution.
  14. Increase the Group Insurance benefits from the present Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 3 lakhs and Rs.5 lakhs to at least to Rs. 3 lakhs, Rs. 5lakhs and Rs. t lakhs if not more.

These are only some of the most important demands. Many other issues concerning the BSNL employees will be taken.

VOTE FOR BSNLEU FOR THE BEST FUTURE OF BSNL AND ITS EMPLOYEES!

UNITY FOR STRUGGLE, STRUGGLE FOR UNITY AND UNITY AND STRUGGLE FOR PROGRESS!

 

The BSNL Membership Verification Campaign ends – Polling on 10th May 2016

08 Sunday May 2016

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The campaign by the non-executive unions in BSNL in connection with the membership verification for grant of recognition to the union/s ends by evening of today, 8th May 2016. The polling will take place on 10th May through out the country. The results will be announced on 12th May. All the Unions are trying their maximum to canvass at the end of the campaign.

Though it was not possible to cover all the circles/ states as in the past verifications, I attended campaign meetings in Kerala, Andhra, Karnataka, Maharashtra, ALTTC, Telecom Factory Mumbai, Rajasthan, Uttarakahnd, Odisha, UP East and UP West. (I was compelled to cancel the programme to Bihar in the last moment due to illness of my wife.). While General Secretary might have visited almost all the circles, other CHQ office-bearers shared the responsibility covering the entire SSAs. This was a great campaign in which hundreds of meetings were held, at least one in each SSA and much more. The exercise might have been done by other unions participating in the verification also.

All the BSNL buildings – offices, exchanges etc. were full of wall posters, banners, flags and other campaign materials of the unions. The social media like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, website, blogs etc.were also used. But one thing I noted was that the maximum publicity was done by BSNLEU, the main recognised union. With regard to the participation of workers in the meetings also, it always had the first position. Of course, the retirement of more than thirty thousand workers since the last verification reflected in the number of workers present.

The allies who changed sides – TEPU and NFTBE from BSNLEU camp to NFTE and SNATTA from NFTE camp to BSNLEU – naturally explained the reasons for their change. BSNLEU had a lot of achievements to campaign, while NFTE mainly concentrated in attacking BSNLEU. This is usual in any election, nothing special. Generally it did not go beyond the permissible limits and cordiality between the leaders and workers were maintained.

The third alliance lead by FNTO aimed not at getting recognition, but at least to get one seat in the councils, which it missed last time by a small margin of votes.

The trend as per my interaction with the workers, participation in the meetings and the general discussions is that BSNLEU, the present main recognised union, which got 48.6% of total votes last time, may get 52% to 55% or more and is expected to become the Sole Bargaining Agent and the only recognised union. The % of votes by NFTE is expected to come down marginally, despite its massive campaign.

Anyway, my assessment is on the basis of my experience in the areas I campaigned. For a better assessment, more statistical calculation is required. It can be done after the voting is over. Anyway, by 12th, the results will be out.

If BSNLEU gets more than 50% of votes as expected and become the Sole Bargaining Agent, the entire basic situation in negotiation will take a new form. BSNLEU will have to bear more responsibilities, being the lone recognised union.

Whatever is the result, all the unions/associations will have to jointly work for strengthening BSNL and also for improving the position of the workers.’STRUGGLE FOR UNITY, UNITY FOR STRUGGLE AND STRUGGLE AND UNITY FOR PROGRESS’ will have to continue as our main guiding policy.

Meeting at ALTTC, Ghaziabad

03 Tuesday May 2016

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A well attended meeting on election campaign was held on 3rd May 2016 at ALTTC, Ghaziabad. Com.L.D.Shukla, President, presided. Com. R.S.Sagar, Circle Secretary, ALTTC welcomed the participants and stated that ALTTC workers will once again support BSNLEU with huge majority. Comrades Upendra Singh Teotia, Circle Secretary, UP(W) Circle, R.S.Chauhan, Circle Secretary, NTR and CHQ Org. Secretary addressed and called upon the employees to vote for BSNLEU. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron BSNLEU in his speech focused the achievements of the BSNLEU during its recognition period. The struggles organised under the leadership of BSNLEU has ensured that no disinvestment could be implemented in BSNL. I and II wage negotiations, Four promotions, change of designations, efforts to settle the anomalies and stagnation – many issues have been effectively settled by the union. He asked the workers to fully support BSNLEU. The doubts raised by the members were replied to by Com. Namboodiri

HMT Closes – A dead end for a Magnificent PSU

03 Tuesday May 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, PSU

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As per reports in the press, one of the earliest PSU  and manufacturer of finest watches in the country for many decades, Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT) Watch Unit, has been closed down on 1st May 2016. It is an irony that the closure has come on the International Workers Day. The last remaining 120 employees were given VRS/CRS and the PSU closed on Sunday.

HMT was world famous for its premium wrist watches. It had its units in many cities, other than the central office at Bangalore. It was a large establishment with thousands of expert workers. HMT was one of the best PSUs in the country and profitable. The anti-PSU policy of the government is the main reason for the closure of HMT. BSNL Employees Union took the initiative for purchasing HMT watches by BSNL for supply to its workers.

HMT Watch Unit is part of history now. It is a sad reminder of the neo-liberal policy of the government  how to kill a  PSU.

Nagpur comrades assures massive majority

02 Monday May 2016

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Membership Verification Campaign meeting was held at Nagpur CTO compound premises under  the special pandal arranged on 2nd May 2016, presided over by Com. Amitabh Chakraborty, District President, BSNLEU. More than 200 workers were present. Com. Pancham Gaikwad, District Secretary welcomed. Com. Barne, District President, CITU, Com. Nasare, Secretary, Co-Ordination Committee of CGE Unions, Com. Dakhtod, veteran leader of NCCPA, Com. Aswin Shende, Dt. Secretary, SNATTA, Com. Thakur, BSNLMS and other leaders addressed and called upon the workers to support and vote for BSNLEU in the coming verification. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, BSNLEU, spoke about the past achievements of BSNLEU, the struggle it has organised on the demands of the workers, its effort to unify the workers and strengthen BSNL. He also spoke about the attacks of the government on the working class and the struggles being conducted by the central trade unions. Com.Namboodiri also spoke about the demands that is placed before the management on the various issues and called upon the workers to fully support BSNLEU and vote for it to win with huge majority. The meeting itself showed the determination of the workers to ensure the victory of BSNLEU.

REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS ON MAY DAY 2016!

29 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, General, TU News - India, TU News - International

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1st May, May Day, the International Day of Working Class, is here again. The May Day is being observed and celebrated through out the world by the workers and other toiling masses. The World federation of Trade unions and the Central trade Unions have given call to observe the day. The memory of the Chicago workers who were hanged for demanding and agitating for the 8 hours working day inspire the working class. It is through such struggles and strikes that the working class have been able to achieve many gains and victories.

May Day 2016 comes at a time when the working class is facing many challenges. The neo-liberal policies being implemented by the imperialist and capitalist class has created misery and heavy burden on the people. For maximising their profits, the corporates and financiers can go to any length, as we have seen. At the same time struggles are going on in many countries against these anti-people policies.

It is not different in India. The Central Trade Unions are unitedly fighting against the neo-liberal policies of the government. The workers rights are being attacked by the NDA government. The hard won gains of the working class are being snatched away. The struggle to defend the already achieved rights and for further improvement will continue.

The struggle to save BSNL has started and many things are to be done in this respect. We have to make BSNL stronger and give far better service to the people.

BSNLEU has to be strengthened and converted in to a militant organisation to fight and achieve the demands of the workers. The organisations of the Pensioners, viz. AIBDPA and that of casual-contract workers viz. BSNLCCWF, have to be strengthened and their issues focussed and exploitation ended.

Let us pledge to march forward with determination and dedication. Organise May Day and participate in the joint programmes being organised on the trade unions.

Unity for Struggle! Struggle for Unity !
Unity and Struggle for Progress !

Revolutionary Greetings on May Day!

BSNL Market Share increased to 10% from 9.43% – Communications Minister

28 Thursday Apr 2016

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Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated in Parliament on 27th April 2016 that BSNL will be increasing its market share from 9.43% in December 2015 to 10% in March 2016. Good News! The initiative of the workers andmanagement  are getting results

Along with making statements, the Minister should ensure that the refund of spectrum charges (Rs. 6,000 crore), USOF assistance (Rs. 1,250 crore) and Income Tax Refund (about Rs. 8,000 – 10,000) to enable it to purchase equipment, upgrading etc.