Wage revision is due in BSNL wef 01.01.2017. Management is delaying the wage revision and discussion with the recognised unions on the plea that the company is not in profit. This is a lame and ant-worker excuse. BSNL is not profitable due to govt policies and not because of any slackness on the part of the workers. It is necessary that the BSNL management should urgently discuss the matter with unions and revise the wages urgently.

Kerala Circle Executive Committee meeting held on 29th October, 2022 at K G Bose Bhavan, Ernakulam started with paying rich tributes to Com.P V Chandraseharan, the legendary leader who effectively guided and led AIBDPA to a militant organisation. The meeting also remembered the valuable services of Coms.M R Chandran and K Krishnan and other leaders who passed away during the intervening period. In his encouraging inaugural address, Com.V A N Namboodiri, Advisor gave a good account of national situation and the issues of the workers, peasants and the pensioners. He also highlighted the militant functioning of AIBDPA during the last thirteen years filled with numerous struggles on genuine issues of the pensioners, latest being the historic Sanchar Bhawan March on 24-08-2022. Com.K Mohanan, Circle President presided. Com.N Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed and presented the report on activities.

Com.K G Jayaraj, General Secretary reported on the latest developments on medical benefits and pension revision as a result of our sustained struggles, including the great Sanchar Bhawan March. He also appealed to help the Reception Committee of the AIC to make the Myssuru conference a great success. Com.R Muraleedharan Nair , AGS spoke on the excellent arrangements made by CHQ for the Sanchar Bhawan March and a fitting farewell and homages to Com.PVC during his last journey from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram. All the district Secretaries and most of the Circle Office beares participated in the discussion. The meeting took important decisions including agitational programme against the unhelpful and negative stand of certain officers in most of the BAs in utilizing the allotted medical fund.

Above is the proposal presented by DOT with zero percent fitment as per III PRC. AIBDPA demands that it should be 15 percent fitment as recommended by III PRC

The Senior Citizens Friends Welfare Association (SCFWA), Kerala, demands the Central Government to restore the train ticket concessions to senior citizens, which was unilaterally withdrawn by the Central government during the Covid period. 50% concession in tickets were being given to women aged 58 and above and 40% concession given to men aged 60 and above. There is no justification to deny the concession to the aged people, whose contribution to the society is well known.

V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, SCFWA

The Membership Verification in BSNL for grant of recognition to the majority union is to take place on 12th October 2002. This is the 9th Membership Verification and in all the last 8 Membership Verifications, BSNLEU has won with good majority. This time also there is no doubt about its victory. The BSNL workers realize and remember that this is the union which has always stood and fought for their cause.

Since its inception after formation of BSNL, BSNLEU has stood for strengthening of the Public Sector. First, it demanded for the Public Sector IDA pay scales, which was agreed to by most of the other organisations and got achieved. Once recognised as the majority union in 2004, it continuously took up issues in favour of other PSUs, of which a few issues are given below:

1. Gift of HMT Watch to BSNL workers: BSNLEU demanded that HMT watch should be gifted to each employee for their great contribution to the growth of BSNL. This was agreed to, but management wanted that watch should be got supplied by private company Titan. Titan approached GS of BSNLEU who flatly refused even discussion with them. BSNLEU told that watch only from HMT is to be gifted. It was also to help the ailing HMT. BSNLEU was part of the negotiation with HMT, who appreciated our role. Thus 3.5 lakhs watches were bought from HMT, which was a real help to them.
2. Group Insurance through LIC: BSNLEU demanded for implementation of Group Insurance for BSNL employees and proposed it through PLI. Since PLI was unable to provide such a big project, BSNLEU demanded that the Group Insurance be taken from LIC. Negotiations were conducted in which BSNLEU was also a party. A very good scheme was finalised and implemented which were beneficial both to BSNL, its workers and LIC. LIC Director who participated also appreciated the role of BSNLEU.
3. Loans from PSU Banks: As per the demand of BSNLEU, negotiations were conducted with PSU Banks, in which BSNLEU was also a party and a good scheme was implemented for getting loans from the PSU Banks. This was maximum utilised by the workers. PSU Banks also benefitted.
4. Improvement of Telecom Factories: It was proposed to close some of the Telecom Factories, since it was stated that their productions have become outdated and running them were complete loss. BSNLEU demanded for constituting a Joint Committee of Management and BSNLEU, which visited all the 7 Telecom Factories and submitted recommendations for modernisation and improvements of the Factories. Only about 10% of the recommendations were implemented, but even that made the TFs to exit, without the workers being retrenched. It also helped BSNL to get cables and other materials at less cost.
5. Orders for ITI: BSNLEU demanded BSNL and also DOT that orders for telephone equipment as also other necessary telecom equipment should be purchased from ITI instead of from private companies and that advance amount should be paid to ITI, since it was not having sufficient funds to invest. The Co-ordination Committee of ITI unions had approached BSNLEU in this connection. The case was taken and it was implemented partially. BSNLEU was appreciated by the ITI Unions as also ITI Management when GS BSNLEU visited ITI.
6. BSNLEU always had close connection with MTNL Unions and initiated joint struggles with them.
7. BSNLEU was part of CPSTU, the Co-ordinating Committee of the PSU unions. It implemented all the programmes, including strike calls, called by CPSTU, which was much appreciated.
8. As can be seen from above, BSNLEU has been an integral part of the PSU Fraternity and ensured whatever co-operation can be made with other PSUs and their workers. – A Champion of PSUs.

SAVE BSNL – SAVE PSUs – VOTE FOR BSNLEU.