The Govt is taking calculated steps to finish off BSNL, systematically by not allowing it to expand the network and provide 4G services, deliberately creating industrial unrest in the company by stopping the funds and salary payment and making BSNL gradually sick. This is deliberate because about 6,000 Cr rupees, payable to BSNL is blocked by DoT (Rs 2350 Cr on BWA spectrum refund interest, Rs 2100 Cr on excess pension Contribution paid, other receivables from DoT). This in turn will benefit the private operators especially Reliance Jio to capture the entire telecom market. The Administrative Ministry DoT and Hon Minister repeatedly assured AUAB that it is committed for revival of BSNL, 4G spectrum allotment and settlement of HR issues as we demanded, but not done anything on the assurances. When Govt slowly gone back from the assurances and started purchasing time, AUAB in strongest protest, gone for 3 days strike in February.

DoT is meticulously implementing the Govt decisions to finish off BSNL with the support of Niti Aayog, Finance Ministry etc. The DoT finance is creating all the hurdles on each are every BSNL proposal, with the tacit support of the higher authorities. This calculated move of the Govt and the DoT placed BSNL in such a critical condition, that the employees are unable to get their salary. The DoT is not allowing BSNL to take bank loan for the CAPEX for expansion of network or OPEX for operations when other operators are taken lakhs of Crores of rupees bank loan for the CAPEX and OPEX. Due to shortage of funds, BSNL is not even able to pay electricity bills, labour charges, maintenance charges, vendor payments for the AMC, vehicle running etc which in turn is seriously affecting the services.

The AUAB discussed all these issues during the last 3 days and firmly decided to expose the conspiracies of the Govt and the DoT. Hence, the AUAB has decided to organise a massive Rally to Sanchar Bhavan on 05.04.2019. It has decided to invite the leaders of all political parties to address this rally.

All the Circles and SSAs are requested to mobilise the maximum number of employees for the rally and to make it an historic event.

AUAB also decided to meet all the Political parties at Central level, state level and the prominent candidates of each constituency to seek their support for the revival of BSNL. (Courtesy: SNEA)

Payment of salary for the month of February, 2019, to be made by 20.03.2019 – CMD BSNL assures to the AUAB.
The representatives of the AUAB met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today at 10:30 am. Ms.Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) was also present. The AUAB demanded that the salary for the month of February, 2019, should be paid before the Holi festival. The CMD BSNL explained the present financial position of the Company briefly, and assured that payment of salary would be made by 20th March, 2019 (BSNLEU Website)

Some of our friends and certain associations have been asking why pension revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017 for BSNL retirees should be demanded on the basis of III PRC instead of on the basis of VII CPC? In this connection certain points are given below, which gives a clear picture in the matter.

When BSNL was formed in 2000, the entire employees working in the Department of Telecommunications were absorbed in BSNL with assurance of better prospects and pension from consolidated fund of the government of India. Rule 37A was incorporated with the CCS (Pension) Rules , 1972 to ensure them government pension is granted. The pension revision was given to them with 30% fitment , recommended by the 2nd PRC for the PSU employees from 01-01-2007. If the pay revision and pension revision was as per VII CPC, it would be from 01-01-2006 and also on CDA scale. But as per PRC II it was granted on IDA scales w.e.f. 01-012017.Later, they were also granted pension revision based on the 78.2% IDA fitment at par with the working employees of BSNL. But both these revisions were much delayed due to a condition of 60:40 stipulated by the government for payment of pensionary benefits. However with much efforts and struggles, this condition was annulled by the Cabinet and the order issued vide No.40-13/2013-Pen (T) dated 20-07-2016. It is stated in the order, Para 2 (b) that “The liability towards pensionary benefits including family pension to the BSNL employees (excepting those recruited after 01-10-2000), as per sub rule, 22 of Rule 37-a of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972, lies with the government.”

The 3rd PRC has recommended 15% fitment for the pay revision of PSU employees with effect from 01-01-2017 which has been approved by the government. The BSNL absorbed government retirees are fully justified to get their pension revised with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017 without linking to the wage revision of BSNL employees. Wage revision of BSNL employees is being delayed due to the affordability condition laid down by the 3rd PRC and on the plea of loss to the company. The pension revision of BSNL absorbed government retirees has nothing to do with the finance of BSNL, as the entire liability lies with the central government. The Department of Telecommunications, despite the assurance by the hon’ble Minister of Communications for early pension revision, is adopting a negative approach and their mindset , even after a series of discussions and struggles, is for the pension revision only after pay revision of BSNL employees. The central government pensioners have already got their pension revised from 01-01-2016 as per the recommendations of 7th CPC. So it is a great injustice being meted out to the BSNL absorbed government retirees by denying the due pension revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017, even after two years of their counterparts in central service got their pension revision.

Certain discussions are going among the pensioners and in social media about how to get the pension revision with effect from 01.01.2017 for BSNL pensioners. Some pensioners unions have demanded for continuing the pension revision as was done w. e. f. 01.01.2007 as this was much beneficial compared to CG Pensioners pension revision. It is most justified and logical too. Some have demanded that it should be on the basis of VII CPC. certain relevant points are given below:

2. The pay revision and pension revision of CG employees were w.e.f. 2006, while the same for BSNL employees and pensioners w.e.f 2007. In the same way it will be in 2016 for CG employees and pensioners and from 2017 for BSNL employees and pensioners.

3. The payscales for CG employees and pension revision are on the basis CDA scales recommended by CPCs. For BSNL employees it is based on IDA scales as per PRC which is higher.The CPC recommends pay scale on CDA and Pay Revision Committee on IDA scale.

4. Periodical CDA for CG employees and pensioners are granted after every six months on the basis of cost of living index. For BSNL staff and pensioners it is in every three months. From experience, we have seen that the latter is better.

5. Since pension was agreed to by the govt. at the time of formation of BSNL,
the govt was thinking of the same pay scales as in govt.as granted to FCI employees etc.when it was made a public sector. Later Door Darshan also followed suit. But all the unions and associations were emphatic that since we are a PSU, we should get PSU scales on IDA. After a bitter struggle, better wage revision was got. Another serious struggle had to be organised for getting pension on the basis of the higher wages than that of CPC

6. This method continued in next wage revision. CG employees got pay revision and pension revision on CDA scales w.e.f. 2006 and BSNL employeers and pensioners as per II PRC on IDA scales wef 2006, which was higher. Sustained struggles had to be organised for getting both wage and pension revision.

7. Further struggles were organised to get 78.2 % IDA wage and pension fixation for BSNL which was higher than that of CGE.

8. All these demands were raised and struggles organised unanimously to achieve the demands. Nobody and no unions that of employees or pensioners demanded that the wage and pension revision should be based on CDA scales on the basis of CPC from 2006 etc., because the wage / pension revision as per PRC was better and beneficial.

9. Coming to the wage revision from 2017 onwards, the workers demanded wage revision with 15% fitment as recommended by III PRC for PSUs. The AUAB demanded that affordability condition should be dropped. The management has recommended the IDA scales for executives and wage negotiation for non executives are going on.

10. Due to the struggles and notice for Indefinite strike by AUAB, the Communications Minister had discussion with AUAB on the major demands raised including wage revision and pension revision. Some are settled and the discussion on wage revision is going on.

11. As per VII CPC, the minimum wage granted for CG employee is Rs.18,000 while the scales demanded for BSNL employeee is Rs. 19590. This IDA scale is better than the CDA scale of Rs.18,000 and consequently pension also.

12. Due to the affordability clause in the III PRC, some comrades felt that there may not be wage revision in BSNL and raised a demand of pension revision be made on the basis of VII CPC. They contended that there may not be any more PRC in the future. It is true that govt. will try any mischief w.r.t to CPC or PRC. In the past also some CPCs stated that there is no need for future CPCs. The workers have thwarted this attack in the past and will do so in future also. We have belief in the workers and their struggle.

13. The government will be only too happy if the wage revision and pension revision is done in BSNL on tbe basis of CPCs. The wage will be less, the pension will be less and three monthly DA increase need not be paid. Of course, the workers will never agree to such reduction. Pension can not be reduced as per present rules, but the government may impose the CDA scale as the basis for future pension as they calculated BSNL payscales for MTNL pensioners, when they demanded full govt.pension as in the case of BSNL pensioners, instead of pro rata pension.

14. Why should a demand be raised for CDA pension as per CPC, when the existing pattern on the basis of PRC is available and has been implemented in the past? Why should anybody go back to a lower payscale or lower pension or stagnation when a serious struggle is going on by tbe AUAB for the entire workers and pensioners?

15. The demand for CDA pension on the basis of VII CPC will result in umpteen anomalies creating a lot of hardship and differences to the workers. It will also be a handle to the govt to distance the pensioners from the workers.

16. Pension contribution from BSNL is collected by the Government on the maximum of the BSNL IDA scale. Why the government should be given a chance to change it to the lower CDA scale and consequent pension?

16. In all the central PSUs where VII CPC is implemented, it is only on the basis of the CDA scales and not on IDA scales. Pension also accordingly.

17. I am sure that nobody will want to go to the government CDA payscale and pension from the present IDA scale and consequent pension.

18. Let us have confidence in the united strength of the workers’ and pensioners’ organisations to clinch a better deal for the workers and pensioners. Going back to a system which we have discarded from a better existing position will not be worthwhile. Some comrades may feel that it is impossible to achieve our demands in the present situation. I would only state that we have faced much more worse situation earlier and have come out successful. Let us continue our struggle for a better future. Many times we have made impossible in to possible.

AIBDPA, AUAB, NCCPA and other pensioners associations have been demanding for early pension revision BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01=01=2017. The last pension revision was implemented with effect from 01-01-2007 with 30% fitment as per the recommendations of the II Pension Revision Committee. The following Pension Associations and AUAB are on struggle for implementation of Pension revision w.e.f.01-01-2017. Extracts of the Charter of Demands, Memorandums, Resolutions etc. are given below:

1. Resolution adopted in the 9th All India Conference of BSNLEU, held at Mysore on 17-20 December 2018
on Pension Revision for BSNL Retirees.

“This 9th All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union held at Mysuru from 17th to 20th 2018 welcomes
the assurance given by the Honorable Minister for Communications, Sri Manoj Sinha, on 3.12.2018 in
the meeting held by him with AUAB (All Unions and Associations of BSNL), for delinking pension
revision for the BSNL pensioners from pay revision of serving employees . This Conference demands for
immediate approval for this delinking.
This Conference further demands that the pension revision be done for the BSNL Pensioners from
1.1.2017 as well as those retired after 1.1.2017, on the basis of 15% increase on basic pension plus
119.5% DA, on par with the IDA Pay Revision ordered by DPE on the basis of 3rd PRC
recommendation.
This Conference demands the DoT and Government of India for automatic revision of pension on the
basis the highest fitment benefit granted in IDA pay revision for executives in future also.”

2. AUAB Demnand

“Implement assurance of the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications for delinking pension revision from pay revision. Revise pension of BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01.01.2017.”

3. NCCPA (National Co-ordinating Committee of Pensioners Association)

“Revise the Pension of BSNL absorbed retirees with 15% fitment recommended by the 3rd PRC and approved by the Government from 1.1.2017 delinking the wage revision in BSNL.”

4. AIBDPA Demand

Revise Pension of BSNL retirees w.e.f. 01-01-2017 on the basis of the recommendations of the III PRC with 15% fitment as was done with 40% fitment as per the recommendations of the II PRC in 2007. All those who have retired w.e.f. 01-01-2017 may be notionally fixed their pay with 15% fitment and pension granted accordingly.

The NCCPA and AIBDPA, AIPRPA and other Pensioners associations are organising Parliament March on this and other issues of the Central Pensioners including cancellation of PFRDA, restoration of statutory security benefit pension scheme replacing NPS etc. etc.

Make the programme a big success!

At the time of the formation of BSNL, the government assured the workers that it will ensure all financial help to the new entity to strengthen  the new entity.

This is the time to help BSNL. Honour your assurances and ensure BSNL to pass over  the financial crisis.

Reports are coming from all parts of the world about the observation of the International Women’s day on 8th March. The message is going from country to country, person to person and within the home.

All our efforts to continue to ensure equal rights and opportunities to women!

8th March is being organised as the International Women’s Day.

WFTU Calls for organising Women’s Day!

After eight farmer suicides in two months, Kerala government has declared major relief for farmers across the state, particularly for the flood-affected farmers in Idukki and Wayanad.

Moratorium on loan recovery proceedings has been extended till December 31 and Kerala State Debt Relief Commission has been asked to consider debt relief for Wayanad and Idukki farmers who had taken loans till August 31, 2018, the month the deluge devastated agricultural lands. Eight of the seven dead in the last two months were farmers from Idukki.

The one-year moratorium on farmers’ loans announced in the wake of the August floods has been extended till December 31. “This is not for agricultural loans alone but for all kinds of loans taken by farmers,” chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said during his post-cabinet briefing in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.

The guidelines of the State Debt Relief Commission, formed in 2006 after a spate of farmer suicides across Kerala, has been dramatically relaxed. Besides providing major succour to Idukki and Wayanad farmers, farmers in other districts, too, will stand to gain. As per the existing guidelines, except for Wayanad, the commission’s cut-off date for considering debt relief was loans taken till October 31, 2011. For Wayanad district alone, it was March 31, 2014. Now, March 31, 2014, is the new limit the commission has been asked to set for all districts, except Wayanad and Idukki for which the new limit is August 31, 2018. “This means that the commission can provide relief to farmers in Wayanad and Idukki who had taken loans just before the floods,” a senior commission official said.

The commission has also been asked to be more generous. As it stands, the commission will pay 75 per cent of the repayment amount if it is Rs 50,000 or less. Anything above Rs 50,000, the commission will pay only 50 per cent subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh. The chief minister said the upper limit has now been pushed up to Rs 2 lakh.

This is not all. Up to nine per cent of the interest for the new loans taken for long-term crops like coffee, rubber and coconut will be provided from the chief minister’s relief fund. This benefit will be provided for one year from the time of taking the loan. The compensation for crop loss, too, has been upped 100 per cent from the levels fixed in 2015. For instance, the compensation for arecanut has been increased to Rs 300 from Rs 150, for cocoa and coffee it will be 200 from Rs 100, for pepper it would be Rs 150 from Rs 75 and for cloves it would be Rs 200 from Rs 100. The compensation for cardamom will now be Rs 25,000 from Rs 18,000 a hectare. The chief minister said Rs 85 crore would be urgently sanctioned for crop losses.

The chief minister said the new relief measures would be besides the special package announced for Wayanad and Idukki districts and also for Kuttanad area.(Courtesy: Ganashakti)

The salary for the month of February, 2019, is not yet paid. BSNL Management says, “We have no money”. To tackle the problem, BSNL needs to take bank loan. But, the DoT refuses to allow BSNL to take bank loans, for meeting operational expenses, ie., for payment of salary, etc. Compared to private companies, BSNL’s debt is very small. Then, why the DoT is not allowing BSNL to avail bank loans? why the BSNL employees are being made to suffer, without payment of salary? The game plan of the government is very clear! It is a conspiracy to create panic among employees, to force them to go on VRS. Already, media reports have said that, the BSNL Management and the DoT are seriously considering a VRS proposal, for BSNL employees. So, all conspiracies are being hatched, to force the employees to go on VRS in a large scale. The government wants to reduce the strength of the employees drastically. If less number of employees are there, it will be easier for the government to sell BSNL to some corporates in future. Let us understand the game plan of the government. Let us unitedly fight to defeat the conspiracies of the government. (BSNLEU website)

An emergent meeting of the AUAB will be held at 11:00 am tomorrow, at BSNL MS office. The BSNL Corporate Management and DoT are responsible for the denial of payment of salary to the employees for the month of February, 2019. Despite severe protests from the employees, the Corporate Management has not taken any action so far, to arrange payment of salary to the employees. This indifference cannot be allowed. Further, the BSNL Management has started issuing show-cause notice to the leaders of the Executive Associations, for their role in organising the 3 day strike. The Management has also informed that break-in-service would be imposed for participating in the 3 day strike. The AUAB meeting, being held tomorrow, will discuss all these issues and will take decisions for taking appropriate actions. (BSNLEU website)