Tag Archives: BSNL

Wage Revision of BSNL Employees

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNLEU, VII CPC

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If the period for wage revision is taken as 10 years, as in the case of central Government Employees, the BSNL employees are due for wage revision in January 2017. If the demand of BSNLEU is accepted for 5 years, the wage revision is due from January 2012. For the executives in BSNL, pay revision depends upon the Pay Revision Committee to be appointed by the government. For the non-executives, it is through direct negotiations between the Management and the Recognised Unions.

Whatever be the position, it is high time that the wage negotiation starts. Last time it took about more than three years of hard negotiation and struggles including strikes to reach an agreement. (Of course, it was a very good wage revision). Even if the negotiation takes about one year, it is time to start the same. There need not be any delay in the matter.

Postal Payment Bank – Pact with BSNL

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, General

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It is understood that Department of Posts is going to have agreement  with government telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to use its platform to roll out payment bank services, which is proposed  to start by March 2016. This will be beneficial for both to Department of Posts and BSNL, which were both part of one single Department, P and T, till 1985.

 

Surrender of BSNL connections – Approach the subscribers for re-connection.

18 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, General

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It was reported in press yesterday that BSNL had lost about 2 crore connections, including landlines and broadband connections during the last one year. The report also stated that BSNL service is not able to compete with the private services.

If it is a fact, it is a sad commentary on BSNL and its services. BSNL and its workers have to give a very serious thought to it. This is a wake up a call.

What is to be done now? We can not allow such surrender of connections to take place weakening BSNL. Then, what is the remedy? What action is to be taken.

Number One. We have to find out immediately what is the reason for these large number of surrenders. It can be found out from the ‘horse’s mouth’ itself. Let the workers in each exchange/SSA approach each and every customer who has surrendered the connection and ask him what is the ‘mistake’ of BSNL or what is the reason for the disconnection. We will, thus,  get a real picture for this exodus. Some  disconnection may not be due to the lack of service, but to some other reasons also.

Number Two. Convince the subscriber that BSNL is ready sort out the issue so that surrender and migration is unnecessary. Tell the subscriber that he/she is our valuable customer and he/she should continue with us.

Number Third. Immediate action to be taken to see that the complaint of the subscriber is attended to and settled. No charge should be collected for the period of non-service (fault) and for re- connection. The presence of an officer of higher responsibility is necessary at this stage.

There is no doubt that at least a minimum 25% of the subscribers, who left us will certainly return to BSNL. They have been subscribers of BSNL for a long period and they will cherish to continue with the same, if good service is available.

The moot question is this? Whether the Management and the workers are prepared to meet the subscriber and sort out the issues, or simply sit and watch the decline. It will be suicidal.

An energetic, subscriber-focused mindset is required followed with swift action. Are we ready for the same?

We have to take up the challenge. We have to bring BSNL to its past glory! Let us start immediately! No time to spare or waste. Immediate action will save many connections.

 

 

 

 

BSNL lost 2 crore connections? A change for the better is a must!

17 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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I am reproducing below a report in the Economic Times which states that BSNL lost 2 Crore connections last two years. This is a serious situation which has to be changed for the better. The Forum and the Unions should continue maximum efforts.

“State-run BSNL lost about 2 crore subscribers in the last financial year as the telco could not match aggressive marketing by private operators besides persisting issues related to coverage and quality of its services.
According to an official in the Department of Telecom, BSNL lost about 1.78 crore wireless and over 20 lakh wireline subscribers between March 2014 and March 2015.
Stating the reasons responsible for the loss of wireless subscribers, the official said BSNL was not able to match the aggressive marketing of services by private telecom operators.
Also, the official added that due to the PSU’s inability to invest in upgradation of its network during the period 2008-2012, there were issues related to mobile network coverage, capacity and quality of service.
“The reasons for decline in wireline subscriber base include the general decline in demand for fixed lines telephone on account of shift to mobile services,” he said.
At the end of May 2015, the wireless subscriber base of BSNL stood at 7.76 crore with a market share of 7.96 per cent.
The wireline base stood at 1.60 crore with a market share of 61.07 per cent.
The company, however, is taking various steps to increase its subscriber base and revenue through investments in network and improve quality of service.
As a part of its phase 7 project, the company will be investing Rs 4,804.77 crore in network augmentation which will result in addition of 14,421 2G sites and 10,605 3G sites across the country.
Apart from that, BSNL has taken a number of initiatives to attract customers which include unlimited free night calls from landline, free incoming calls on roaming and a host of different special plans.”

VRS for BSNL and MTNL Employees ?

13 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in Forum, General, PSU

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It seems that certain manias of government never end. It is now about Voluntary Retirement Scheme in BSNL and MTNL. While VRS was implemented thrice in MTNL, the staff unions in BSNL strongly opposed it and never allowed VRS to take place in the company. Every time, the government had to go back on the scheme due to the mighty opposition and struggles of the unions under the leadership of the Forum, the umbrella organisation.

 

Once again, the central government, now NDA is taking the old proposal from its store. The proposal as per press reports  target  about 70,000 – 1,00,000 employees in BSNL. We have told and proved with examples in other PSUs, that VRS always have been bad for the service and the PSU itself. But a government, which is pro-private and is not interested in the growth of PSU,  may again try to implement VRS, making it a CRS (Compulsory Retirement Scheme).

The government is to be told emphatically, that the BSNL employees and their unions will never allow any  VRS in BSNL which is against the interest of the workers, the service and the country itself.

Have you started the Post Card Campaign ? If not, start it immediately.

11 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Forum

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has taken a very appropriate decision to send a post card by each and every employee addressed to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister, demanding immediate steps for the revival of BSNL. It was only due to the anti-BSNL decisions and policy of both the UPA and NDA Governments that BSNL has started posting loss for the last few years and the service has gone down. It is the responsibility of the government to restore it to its glorious past. The employees under the leadership of Forum are taking every step to ensure financial viability of BSNL and better service to the customers. Due to this, the service has improved and the losses are marginally coming down for the last two years. But it is only through support from the government the process could be expedited.

Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad continuously declares that he will not allow BSNL and MTNL to die and that the government will give all assistance to BSNL and MTNL.  Words have to be followed by action, which is missing. Leave alone liberal assistance, even what is due to BSNL is not being paid. Rs. 1,250 crore which is due to BSNL in lieu of ADC for 2012-13, though approved, is yet to be paid. Rs. 4,460 crore, the balance of refund of the spectrum ( after adjusting Rs. 2,000 crore towards Licence Fee) is yet to be paid. Only Rs. 169.16 crore alone is approved by the Cabinet, recently. Great injustice is being done towards BSNL by the government.

The employees also are very much agitated that the Communications Minister, since he has taken over charge, has not met the Forum leaders even once, despite several requests, even after the strike Notice was served.

It is in this context that the Forum has decided to organise the Post Card Campaign from 10th to 22nd August 2015, by sending Post Cards to the Minister demanding immediate action for the revival of BSNL. Each and every employee, whether executive or non-executive, should write with his signature and address and post the same during this period of 13 days.

It may not be out of place to mention one thing. Unless the decision is completely implemented, the full power of the unions / associations can not be shown to the Government. The SSA/Branch Secretaries should ensure that the Post Card is sent by each and every employee. In the case of those on leave also, the same should be ensured. The CHQs of the unions/ associations need to be informed about the number of post cards dispatched, so that the exact number could be ascertained. This is part of the organisational activity, which every member has a responsibility to implement.

The Campaign is for the defence of the BSNL and its workers. It is for a better service to the customers. Each and every employee should be part of this campaign for the Revival of BSNL.

 

Telcos penalised for increased radiation of Towers (BTS)

09 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL News

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The government has imposed total penalty of 10.80 crore on telecom operators for exceeding prescribed electronic frequency (EMF) limits, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

According to the statement, the maximum penalty of Rs 2.15 crore was imposed on Bharti Airtel, followed by Rs 1.80 crore on Vodafone, Rs 1.65 crore on Reliance and Rs 1.45 crore on Tata Teleservices. A penalty of Rs 95 lakh was imposed on Idea, Rs 90 lakh on Aircel, Rs 70 lakh on BSNL, Rs 55 lakh on Loop, Rs 15 lakh on MTNL, Rs 5 lakh on Sistema Shyam Teleservices, Rs 35 lakh on Uninor and Rs 10 lakh on Videocon.

He said that during 2015-16 (upto May 31), 6 base tower stations (BTSs) were found exceeding the prescribed radiation limit on actual testing. The number of towers exceeding the limit stood at 103 in 2012-13 and 77 in 2013-14, while none of the towers were found to exceed the limit in 2014-15. (Courtesy: Financial Express)

Shift anti-worker CGM – No other option to save Kerala BSNL Circle

07 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, Forum

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The CCLU workers as well BSNL employees in Kerala are on struggle for the last one month. The complete strike by the casual contract workers and Hunger Strike by the leaders of BSNLEU and SNEA against vindictiveness of and victimisation by CGM Kerala is continuing for the last four days almost paralysing the BSNL services. While the CCLU is on strike for better wages and upgradation from unskilled to skilled category as also for implementation of the strike agreement made earlier,  the employees are on agitation against victimisation and harassment of leaders and workers of the unions. Any sensible management would have discussed the issues with the unions and found a settlement. Despite one month of struggle, no worthwhile discussion has taken place.

The assurances given by the Communications Minister to the Kerala M.P.s as well as the assurances given by the CMD to the leaders of BSNLCCWF, BSNLEU and SNEA are not honoured by the CGM Kerala. Shri MSS Rao, CGM Kerala is acting beyond his powers and has already made the entire employees against him by his arrogant and anti-workers decisions. We do not know, whether he is acting in such a way as to help the private companies and sabotage the services to the people so that the one circle, which has always been profitable is also made in to loss.

The workers and the trade unions in Kerala can not allow such a situation. It is a circle which has sent out such arrogant bureaucrats in the past, whether they were in P and T, AGs Office or elsewhere. We usually do not demand for the transfer of an officer. But now, he has crossed every limit and there is no other way except that the present CGM should be packed and sent out of Kerala, if the circle is to be saved. The Minister and CMD should ensure that he is transferred immediately from the circle. Nothing less than that is acceptable to the workers.

We demand the Minister and the CMD to immediately transfer Shri MSS Rao, CGM from Kerala Circle to outside.

Forum calls for protest demonstration on 12th August against formation of Tower Company – BSNLCCWF will also participate.

06 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, Forum

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Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has called upon the BSNL employees to organise massive protest demonstrations on 12th August 2015 opposing the approval of the union cabinet to separate the BSNL towers, numbering about 65,000 in to a separate company bifurcating BSNL. The decision of the Cabinet stating that this will improve financial viability is nothing but a clever move to weaken the BSNL by reducing its revenue from the existing towers. The decision of the Forum to express its protest is in time.

BSNLCCWF calls upon its units to join the demonstrations on 12th August along with BSNL employees.

Modi Government Dishonours Assurances – Betrayal to BSNL

06 Thursday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, BSNLEU, Forum

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It is reported that the Cabinet yesterday has decided to grant Rs. 169.16 crores to BSNL, as part of the refund for the BMW Spectrum surrendered by BSNL. BSNL surrendered the spectrum years back and the more than Rs. 4,700 are to be paid to BSNL for the same after the DOT has arbitrarily adjusted about Rs. 2,000 crore towards licence Fee to be paid by BSNL. The Communications Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad has been continuously declaring that financial assistance will be given to BSNL for revival, but what happens is that even the legitimate refund is not being paid. Is it that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not hearing Communication Minister or the the latter himself is against assisting the BSNL? Any way, the losers are BSNL, the employees and the public. The double face of the Modi Government is exposed fully, which only wants the MNCs and Corporates to grab maximum profits.

Rs. 1,250 crores already allotted for the financial year 2012-13 in lieu of ADC for BSNL is yet to be paid despite assurance from the DOT after the two days April Strike.

The Forum and BSNLEU will continue their sustained struggle for getting justice to BSNL and its workers. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE WORKERS FOR GRANTED. THEY WILL FIGHT BACK FOR SURVIVAL!