Category Archives: BSNLEU

LET US UTILIZE THE OPPORTUNITY WISELY.

11 Thursday Apr 2019

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

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The pension revision of BSNL retirees from 01-01-2017 stands frozen now. But why? The Hon’ble Minister of Communications and the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications had given categorical assurance for pension revision delinking wage revision in the discussion had with AUAB on 2nd and 3rd December, 2018. But the DoT has not initiated any action on it and are still pursuing for pension revision after wage revision. How can the buerocracy dare to take such a stand without the support of the government.? Yes, it is a treacherous game plan being enacted by both the government and the dominant section of buerocracy in DoT. Is it an isolated issue.? Certainly not. In the same meeting with AUAB, the Minister had given some other assurances also,viz, wage revision, 4G spectrum to BSNL, Pension contribution on actual pay instead of maximum of the pay scale. None of these have been implemented so far and the entire BSNL employees had to go for a three days strike from 18th February, 2019 against the cheating..

Meanwhile BSNL was pushed back to an acute situation that the salary to the employees for February , 2019 had to be deferred. It is no secret that Reliance Jio is allowed by the government to operate freely with predatory pricing violating the rules and license provisions.ever since its launching in September, 2016. This has virtually put the entire telecom sector to great crisis and all the service providers are incurring huge losses. The aim of Mukesh Ambani, the richest corporate in India and owner of Reliance Jio is to dominate the telecom service sector by grabbing the customers of other companies and to increase the market share and revenue share to 50%.. However, BSNL is the only operator resisting the Reliance Jio to a great extent with comparitively less liability. This has embarassed Mukesh Ambani and is pressurising the Modi government to eliminate BSNL from the telecom sector and naturally the government has to oblige as it is the government for the corporates . This is the real backgound for the present created crisis in BSNL.This is nothing but part of the anti-PSU policy of Modi government, another glaring example seen recently is ignoring the reputed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in the corrupt Rafale deal for the sake of Anil Ambani’s company.

The cheating of workers and pensioners is nothing new and the on the contrary has become the hallmark of Modi government. The retrograde recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission was implemented unilaterally by Modi government against which an indefinite strike from 11th July, 2016 was declared by the Joint Action Council of Central government organisations. The Modi government was thus compelled for a negotiation with the JAC on 30-06-2016 and the Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave assurances on increased minimum pay and fitment, Option 1 (Parity in pension), the only positive recommendation for the pensioners and increase in medical allowance. But the government did not honour its commitment and central government employees and pensioners were cheated. Despite sustained struggles, Modi government has not done anything on the New Contributory Pension Scheme which is proved now to be a No Pension Scheme.

Modi government during its five year term never wanted to concede any of the demands of the workers, put forward by the Central Trade Unions against which many struggles including nation wide strikes were conducted. Labour laws were amended to suit the interests of the employers and the fixed term job amendment is nothing short of enslaving the workers. The farmers and agricultural workers were also compelled to wage several struggles against non-implementation of assurances and the worsening situation in the farm sector. Now the people are convinced enough as to how the adverse impacts of the neo-liberal policies being implemented vigorously by the Modi government have affected their life.

It is pertinent to mention here about the hollow promises given by the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections in 2014; Rs.15 lakh to the bank account of every Indian, 2 crore jobs every year, Petrol @ Rs.40 per litre etc. In addition to these enormous damage is done to the secular fabric and communal harmony of the country during the last five years. Constitutional institutions are filled with ‘yes men’.; even judiciary is not spared. Now, we have to think very seriously what will be our future if the same BJP is voted to power? No doubt,it will be a complete disaster. The need of the hour is a secular and democratic government in the country which will have an alternate policy focusing on the welfare of the poor and common people.. So let us be careful while utilizing the franchise in the ensuing general elections. (Telepensioner Editorial)

Anti-BSNL policies of the governments that came to power at the Centre are responsible for BSNL’s crisis.

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNLEU

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Recently, the spokesperson for Congress Party, Randeep Singh Surjewala has blamed the Modi government for the financial woes of BSNL. In reply to this, Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications has stated that BSNL and MTNL, are suffering due to decisions taken under the UPA regime. What Shri Manoj Sinha says is correct. At the same time what Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala said is also perfectly correct. The AUAB has been accusing that BSNL is in a financial crisis today, only because of the anti-BSNL policies adopted by the successive governments that came to power at the Centre. The AUAB has been maintaining that the employees of BSNL are in no way connected with BSNL’s present financial condition. What Shri Randeep Singh Surjewala and Shri Manoj Sinha have said, have proved this.(Courtey: bsnleu.in)

Oppose VRS – Organise powerful demonstrations on 12-04-2019.

10 Wednesday Apr 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNLEU

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In the name of revival of BSNL, the government is moving fast to implement VRS in BSNL. The DoT has not bothered to discuss it’s so called revival plan of BSNL with the unions and associations, which are important stake-holders of BSNL. Further, the government has unilaterally decided to divert the income to be generated through the monetisation of BSNL’s lands, to fund the VRS. This is nothing, but a well thought of plan, to deprive BSNL of the funds needed for it’s development and financial revival. Further, VRS is the government’s strategy to cut down the size of BSNL’s employees, so as to make it attractive for privatisation. The unions and associations which are opposing VRS have called on the employees to organise protest demonstrations throughout the country on 12-04-2019. We request all the circle and district unions to mobilise maximum number of employees and to make the demonstration a huge success.(courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Non-payment of wages to contract workers

23 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Almost one lakh contract workers engaged in BSNL have not received wages for three months. Their families are starving. Fast Dharna was organised on 13th March at Delhi Corporate office. Although salary for February was paid to regular employees by 15th March, the wages of the workers are yet to be paid.
We demand the BSNL management to allot funds to the CGMs for making payment of wages to contract workers.

Demonetisation to white wash black money – CPI(M)

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in BSNLEU, General

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CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Friday said demonetisation was to “whitewash” black money, amidst reports that the current cash in circulation has jumped by more than 19 per cent from the pre-note ban days.

Media reports have indicated that the cash in circulation has jumped by 19.14 per cent to Rs 21.41 lakh crore as on March 15 this year from the pre-demonetisation level of Rs 17.97 lakh crore on November 4, 2016.

“Demonetisation by Modi on a whim, against all advice from RBI, was a way to whitewash black money. We know how jobs and lives were destroyed by notebandi. Now claims like ‘cashless’ economy also have turned out to be false and misleading Jumlas. #DemonetisationDisaster,” Yechury tweeted. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

BSNL adds 9.82 lakh customers in January 2019.

22 Friday Mar 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU

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As per TRAI report, Reliance Jio has added 93 lakh new mobile customers in January, 2019. BSNL has added 9.82 lakh customers and Airtel has added 1 lakh new customers. The country’s biggest telecom operator, Vodafone Idea, has lost 35.8 lakh customers and MTNL has lost 4,927 customers. It is a great achievement that BSNL is performing better than private giants Vodafone Idea and Airtel, and that too without 4G. (BSNLEU Website)

Reliance Jio is entrusted with the task of providing connectivity in airports throughout the country.

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

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It is very unfortunate that the Reliance Jio is being given the status of Government Service Provider, while the Public Sector BSNL is being neglected. Already, the mobile / landline connections of the Indian Railways have gone to Reliance Jio. Now, the government has entrusted the job of providing MPLS–VPN and SD-VAN networks in all the airports, to Reliance Jio. If things go like this, days are not far away, when the entire telephone connections of the government will be taken from Reliance Jio. (BSNLEU Website)

BSNL and Jet Airways – two different approaches of the government.

20 Wednesday Mar 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNLEU

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Jet Airways, which was the biggest Indian airways company some time back, is in a deep financial crisis. It’s pilots have not been paid salary for the past 3 months. They have threatened to go on strike from 1st April, 2019, if the salary is not paid. Jet Airways is having a loan of one billion US dollars. The company is operating only 140 flights per week now, whereas, it was operating 600 flights per week, some time back. The important development that we should note on this issue is that, the government has conducted an emergency meeting yesterday to bail out Jet Airways. Today’s Economic Times (20.03.2019) has reported that the government is pressurising the banks to extend loans to Jet Airways. We appreciate the care that the government is taking for Jet Airways, which is a private company. But what about BSNL, which is the government’s own company? BSNL is crying and pleading to the government to permit it to take bank loans to overcome it’s financial crisis. But the Hon’ble Minister and the government are not coming to the rescue of BSNL. Whereas, in the case of Jet Airways, the government has conducted an emergency meeting and is pressurising the banks to extend loans to it. No more example is required to explain the government’s pro-private and anti-public sector policies. It is these policies which have ruined BSNL. Together with the AUAB, BSNLEU is continuously fighting against these anti-BSNL policies of the government. However, amongst us, we have some great brains, who are giving experts opinion that, we should not fight against the government.(Courtesy: BSNLEU website)

Sustained united struggle is the need of the hour to save BSNL and other PSUs.

19 Tuesday Mar 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNL, BSNL News, BSNLEU

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BSNL officers, employees and casual contract workers are now facing an unprecedented attack on their jobs, wages and livelyhood. For the first time in its 18 years of existence the payment of salary for BSNL officers and employees were delayed by two weeks.Contract workers have not been paid wages for more than three months.
The workers under the leadership of All Unions Associations of BSNL (AUAB) as also BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation are on sustained struggle including strike to make the govt to settle their demands urgently. In the Charter of Demands, in addition to wage revision and pension revision, demands for the allotment of 4G spectrum, pensionary benefits of BSNL recruitees, DOT approval for taking loan, suggestions for improvement of BSNL services – all are there. Massive protest demonstrations, rallies, one Two Days Strike, another Three Days Strike – all have been successfully organised.

Some comrades feel that the leaders are responsible for the present complicated situation. But it is not a fact.These comrades are completely mistaken. Unfortunately many of them are not members of any union and have not participated in the struggle. Had they been union members and participants of these mighty struggles, they would have been fully convinced about the struggles undertaken and appreciated the leadership.

Who are then responsible for the present unenviable situation.It is neither the workforce nor their unions. It is the antiworker, anti- PSU policy of the ruling parties and governments headed by them. Public Sector Units were formed immediately after Independence to start infrastructure as also to develop industries in the various core sectors, which the Indian corporates were unable to do.The PSUs employed lakhs of workers, strengthened the finance of the country and gave valuable service to the people.

The situation completely changed by the end 1980s.The neo-liberal policy initiated in the 1900s were clearly intended to weaken the PSUs and allow corporates to take over.It was at this stage that telecommunication was opened up for private companies, BSNL and MTNL were denied mobile services etc.

BSNL was formed with the intention of closing or privatising it. The govt took many steps in this direction, but the united struggle under Forum, Joint Forum, AUAB etc defeated each of them. They could not implement one lakh VRS, disinvestment, unbundling of copper cables etc due to continued strugggle by workers. The govt is favouring private companies and grant them all cocessions. BSNL is continuously discriminated.

BSNL was having Rs.40,000 crore safely in PSU banks, Rs. 8000 to 12000 crore annual profit with good divident being paid to govt. Despite delay in getting mobile services it was reaching to first position, when the tender for 4 .5 crore mobile was cancelled by govt. One after another developments took place, the govt discriminating BSNL and favouring private companies. The latest open favouritism to Reliance Jio, going to the extend of Prime Minieter Modi’s photo used in Jio’s advertisement. Never the PM stood in sipport for BSNL.

All the telecom sector PSUs, ITI, Hindustan Cables, VSNL etc were either privatised, closed or made sick and the workers lost their jobs. 46% shares have been sold in MTNL. The workers in BSNL stood together, fought together and defeated the foul game of the govt .till now.

All the telecom companies are in huge loss dud to the predatory charges started by Reliance Jio, with the overt and covert support of Govt. The loss to the private companies like Idea,Vodafone, Airtel etc. are more than one lakh crore. The loss to Reliance Jio will be more than that, though it claim profit by manipulating accounts. BSNL in loss about Rs.13,000 crore which is less than others. Private companies are allowed to take huge loans from banks despite their loss, but BSNL is not allowed to take loan from banks for development as also for paying salary. Govt and DOT is creating such a situation to frighten the employees and compel them to take VRS and leave to trim the organisation for taking over by the private companies.

Wage revision and pension revision is not implemented on the plea that the company is in loss. Though govt was compelled to delink wage and pension revision, the pension revision as implemented in 2007 as per II PRC, is not implemented as per III PRC from 2017.( some confusion was created by some comrades demanding pension revision on CDA scales as per VII CPC which will have disastrous results). The NCCPA, AIBDPA, AUAB and most of the workers and pensioners organisations took the correct stand and organised strikes, Parliament March,Fast etc, the latest which was on 25th March participated by thoudands.

Elections are announced and it has been decided by these organisations to meet all the present MPs, MP candidates, Ministers, leaders of political parties etc demanding implementation of assurances given at the time of formation of BSNL by financially and otherwise supporting BSNL, implementing wage revision and pension revision without delay, pensionary benefits of new recruits, regularisation of casual labour, allotment of 4G Spectrum etc etc.The struggle will continue till success.

In the meantime some comrades, who are non-members and non-participants in the struggle started a whishpering campaign against the unions and their leaders, who have fought and won much for the workers and pensioners. We request these comrades to become members of unions and be participants in the long and hard battle to save BSNL, its workers, labours and pensioners.

Our struggle will continue. We are sure that we will succeed. No struggle has been in vain, though the result may not be there immediately. History has proved it.

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

The departmental Committee finalized the report on gratuity issue for the Contract Workers.

11 Monday Mar 2019

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

≈ 9 Comments

Corporate office has finalized the guideline for the modalities of tender procedure which can ensure the Social Security to Contract Workers including gratuity. Earlier, a committee was formed under the Chairmanship of GM (Restg.) to do the job. Today, Com. Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNLCCWF, and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS, BSNLEU, and Com. Prakash Sharma, AGS, BSNLEU, met Shri Manish Kumar, GM (Restg.) and discussed the subject. It is learnt that the Committee has already finalized the report and submitted it to the GM, (MM) under Director (CFA). He also stated that the committee has strongly recommended following up the Labour Lows and Social Security in the tender procedure including payment of wages to the workers through Bank Account of Cheque only. Hope, now the local administration will do the needful action in the tender documents so that the Contract Workers will get the facilities of Social Security including gratuity.

(courtesy: BSNLCCWF website)