Encouraging meeting of the AUAB held online yesterday. An encouraging meeting of the AUAB was held online on the 21.06.2021. General Secretaries / leaders of BSNLEU, NFTE, AIGETOA, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, FNTO, SEWA BSNL, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM, TEPU and BSNL OA participated. Non-disbursement of salary on the due date, heavy delay in BSNL’s 4G launching, issues related to BSNL’s revival and other issues of the employees were discussed. It is decided to convene one physical meeting of the AUAB at New Delhi on 01.07.2021 for finalising the charter of demands and programme of action. It is also decided to invite all the applicant unions and associations for that meeting.

(AIBDPA Website)

BJP which declared in their electoral manifesto that they will bring the price of petrol from the then Rs.50 per litre to Rs. 40 per litre has increased it to to Rs. 100 during the last few years. Even while the international price of crude oil is reducing, Modi Government has increased the prices.

Protest actions are going on demanding reduction of petrol and diesel prices. The government should take note of the protests and reduces the prices of petroleum products.

Thousands of contract workers engaged in BSNL for years for removal of faults, expansion and developmental works etc are not paid their wages for about two years, in the name financial crisis. They are the lowest paid section in BSNL and manage their family with the meagre wages they get. They do not have any savings even for exigencies. Unable to maintain their families, more than a dozen workers have already committed suicide.

BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) has been continuously taking up this issue with the BSNL management, but with no results. It is nothing but a crime on the part of the government and BSNL management to deny the due wages and arrears to these workers.

We demand that the BSNL management give maximum priority to this issue and ensure that the wages are paid without delay.

After one and half years of the declaration of the Revival Plan of BSNL announced by the Modi Government, it has become very clear that the plan was not for revival of BSNL, but only to ensure that a large number of officials are retrenched through VRS. With lighting speed VRS was implemented for about 80,000 employees within two months with all the administrative machinery geared to it. But despite after one and half years, the other assurances like 4 G Spectrum service in BSNL, monetisation of extra land assets etc. are pending. No arrangement is made for meeting the shortage caused by the retiring of about half the employees.

More than 50,000 contract workers have been retrenched making it extremely difficult to attend faults, introduce expansion plans and so on. The contract workers are yet to receive the wage arrears for about two years. Even during this Covid period, the contract workers not being paid wages. The regular employees are not getting their salary in time. It was stated that after the VRS, the financial condition of BSNL will be fine, as the total amount towards salary will be reduced by about Rs. 8,000 crore per annum as more than half of the employees will be going on VRS.

There is no doubt that the conspiracy to weaken BSNL is going on at the highest level. Of course, it is well known that the corporatisation of Telecom Services itself was in preparation of privatisation. It is only with the united continuous struggle of the BSNL workers that BSNL is surviving.

The decision of the All Unions Associations of BSNL (AUAB) to go on agitation to defend BSNL is greatly appreciated. Modi Government will not hear reason. Only powerful struggle is the way.

The central government is unjustifiably increasing the prices of petrol and diesel almost every day except during election time. The BJP which promised that the petrol prices will be brought down to Rs. 40/ had now increased it to more than Rs.100/.

Countrywide strong protest is the need of the time.

One and half years are over after the Central government declared programmes for revival of BSNL. Nothing is done except the retrenchment of about 80,000 employees through VRS. Since there is lack of staff to work, it is reported that the VRS retired officials are going to be engaged on contract basis. Interesting! What about 4G Spectrum? What about assistance for revival of BSNL/MTNL?

Modi Govt. is only interested in demolishing the PSUs and handing over them to the corporate giants like Ambani and Adani. Now the central government is proceeding to convert the Govt. Ordnance factories in to corporations with the intent of privatising it later.

Strong united resistance is required to fight this privatisation moves.

The Defence workers are on agitational path against the corporatisation of Ordnance Factories, which are producing defence equipment for the country. Corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation, as we have seen in some other corporations. We fully support the agitation of the defence workers for saving the Ordnance factories.

The central trade unions have decided to observe June 26 as ” Save Agriculture- Save Democracy Day” in support of the Farmers Struggle against the anti-farmer laws of Modi Government. The historic and heroic struggle has already passed 200 days and no effective efforts are being taken by the government for a reasonable settlement. It is in this context that the Central Trade Unions have jointly taken the decision for the solidarity action.

All our units are requested to extend full support and solidarity to this program.

The joint statement of the CTUs in this regard is reproduced below.

K G Jayaraj

General Secretary AIBDPA

A very, very sad information has been conveyed by Com.R.P.Sharma, President, Central Govt Penioners’ Assn Rajasthan that wife, Smt. Krishna Vyas, son Mohan Krishna Vyas and daughter in law of Com. S.K. Vyas, legendary leader of CG employees, have passed away during the last month due to Covid at Jaipur. They were under treatment for Covid. The report is given below.”Com.It is to inform with heavy heart that the wife of veteran leader Com S K Vyas Smt Krishna Vyas after a brief illness & hospitalisation along with his eldest son Dr Mohan krishan & his wife have left this planet in one month period ie on 14,31May & on 13 June Smt krishna vyas due to Corona. The entire members of CGPA Rajasthan express it’s deepest & heartfelt condolences to the family members & dips it’s banner in honour of departed souls. President R P Sharma CGPA Rajasthan Jaipur.”All of us are shocked at the heavy tragedy that has fallen on the family of Com.S.K.Vyas. After passing away of S.K.Vyas, his son used to be in contact with our comrades. He was also a very nice personality like his father.We convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades.

V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA. Patron NCCPA