Meeting at PMO on BSNL Revival Plan on 20.08.2019:

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shri Nripendra Mishra called a meeting today at 3.30 PM in PMO to discuss the draft Cabinet Note on Revival of BSNL.

1. 4G proposal accepted as 100% capital infusion. GST portion should be funded by BSNL as it cannot be done by Capital infusion.

2. VRS proposal followed by retirement age reduction to 58 accepted.

3. Proposal for SPV for land monetization and transfer of BSNL loan NOT accepted. SPV experience was a failure in the case of Air India.

4. BSNL land monetization proposal accepted. Land, OFC and Towers will be monetized and will be monitored by a Committee consisting of BSNL, DoT and DIPAM.

5. BSNL and MTNL merger proposal dropped. It will be taken up later on.

Revised Cabinet Memo will be going to the Cabinet directly, most probably next week.

Reduction of retirement age from 60 to 58 years – hold protest lunch hour demonstrations throughout the country tomorrow, 21.08.2019.

The AUAB has reliably learnt that the BSNL Board meeting is going to be held tomorrow, 21.08.2019, in which they are going to give approval for reducing the retirement age of BSNL employees from 60 to 58. We have been hearing for the past few months, about the proposal of the Government to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58. This is not only affecting those who are nearing retirement, the service of the entire work force, including the youngsters will come down by 2 years. In this case, there is no option for the employees like VRS. 

This arbitrary decision is taken by the Govt and now pressurising the BSNL Board to approve it without any consultation with the real stake holders of the company, the employees. This is totally against the commitment given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, that Government rule will be applicable so far as the retirement of BSNL employees is concerned.

In view of this, we have to strongly protest against this arbitrary move to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58 years. Hence, SNEA and AUAB calls upon the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL to hold lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow to protest against the proposed move of the BSNL Board to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58.

Employees Unity only can save this company during this crisis period and we should be in the forefront to maintain the Unity.

Meeting at PMO on BSNL Revival Plan on 20.08.2019:

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Shri Nripendra Mishra called a meeting today in PMO to discuss the draft Cabinet Note on Revival of BSNL. Both the Secretaries from Finance Ministry is attending the meeting. In response to the Cabinet Note, Finance Ministry raised some queries on the possibility of Revival of BSNL as per the proposal in the Cabinet Memo. Right from the beginning, Finance Ministry was of the opinion that there is no need for revival of BSNL/MTNL. But due to the political pressure and the compulsions created by our continuous agitation, public and media support, political leadership at highest level intervened and the Revival proposal is mooted. If the outcome of today’s meeting is positive, Cabinet decision can be expected by this month end itself.

Meeting with Shri Sheetla Prasad Tripathi, DIR(CM &HR): GS, President and AGS met Director(CM) and held discussions on various issues: i) On financial condition, DIR informed that there is no significant improvement. The banks are reluctant on giving fresh loan on the repayment capacity. Now all eyes are on the Revival package, once it is approved, situation will automatically change. ii) On DGM(T) promotion, we explained the changed situation as the number of vacancies are more than sufficient to promote all the eligible DEs. Further we explained the discussions we had with CGM(Legal) and PGM(Pers)/DGM(Pers) on this matter. We requested to withdraw the MA filed in the Hon CAT and proceed with the promotions. Response of Director was very positive and assured to work out on this. iii) Promotion in different cadres: We explained the precarious situation in promotion among different cadres and sought the intervention at highest level. Executives are not demanding any monitory benefits, just a designation change, we told. Director informed that management is aware of the situation but at present top management is fully pre occuppied in the finalization of Revival plan. Once that is finalised management will be able to focus on these issues. 

GS writes to Shri. P. K Purwar, CMD, BSNL:

For overcoming the dead lock situation on post based promotions due to never ending litigations on reservation policy and seniority related issues, BSNL Board on 28.05.2018 approved BSNL Executives Promotion Amendment & Recruitment Rules, 2017 (BEPPARR or CPSU Cadre Hierarchy) for all the Executives of all the streams, w.e.f. 28.05.2018. The requirement of Parity and Uniformity in promotions among equivalent cadres in different wings of BSNL is accepted and approved by the BSNL Board as a solution to end litigations. Implementation date can be either 29.06.2018 (the last functional promotion order date as per earlier RRs) or 01.07.2018, the immediate review date. This process shall be completed before restructuring of BSNL or implementation of VRS and all eligible Executives shall be promoted. Thousands of youngsters as well as seniors are suffering.

Meeting with Shri Arun Kumar, PGM(Pers) on 13.08.2019: GS and both AGSs met PGM(Pers) and held discussions on:

a) JTO to SDE promotion: PGM informed that management is waiting for the Hon Kerala High Court order on the review petition.

The SDE promotion is delaying due to the contempt of court case filed by few AIGETOA activists against CMD and GM(P) against the promotion order issued on 15.06.2018. This forced management to file the review petition in the HC as the applicants are trying to drag the CMD and others to the court on the contempt petition. If the contempt case is not there, the promotion orders could have issued long back, which was informed by the management to all the leaders of different Associations, long back. For the assurance of all the concerned, Management filed affidavit also in the Hon CAT that it is ready for issuing promotion orders for all the vacancies and it is in a very advanced stage but the applicants insisted to proceed with the contempt case.

b) DE to DGM promotion: The MA filed by BSNL in Hon CAT Chandigarh for early hearing was listed last week but Hon Court posted the matter to 30.08.2019 along with the other MA. GS shared the apprehension that as happening now, on 30.08.2019 also Hon CAT may not give a final decision and the promotion will continue to delay. GS requested to consider withdrawing the MA and going ahead with promotions as the situation is changed. At present, the number of vacancies are more than the eligible candidates and as such there is no need to apprehend about new court cases. PGM(Pers) agreed to discuss the matter with higher authorities and explore the possibility to withdraw the MA for going ahead with the DPC and promotion.

c) Request Transfer in the cadre of DGMs: New CMD/DIR(HR) approved only those cases having less than 1 year service left and sought the details of the transfer policy followed for the remaining cases. Pers section again processed the cases with the policy guidelines and resubmitted for approval. It is expected to get the remaining transfer cases cleared shortly.

d) Request Transfer in the cadre of DEs: The requests are approved in principle and the orders will be issued by arranging substitutes to the shortage Circles.

GS writes to Shri. P. K. Purwar, CMD/BSNL: Immediate financial assistance for diesel, labour payment and vehicle running expenses for the flood affected areas of different Circles.

CWC meeting on 29-30, August, 2019:

In the coming CWC meeting, important decisions are to be taken about the Associations formal stand on restructuring of BSNL, proposal for reduction of retirement age to 58 and pension revision. These proposals are not coming as a package along with 3^rd PRC and pension revision. Similarly, the strategies for next MV also to be discussed.

Those Circles not hold the CEC meeting recently and discussed these issues has to conduct the CEC meeting compulsorily to know the views of the membership. CSs have to submit the views of the CEC in the CWC meeting to take an appropriate decision, reflecting the opinion of the membership.

Pension benefits under NPS on Voluntary Retirement: Reply in the Parliament

Reply given by Govt to letter dated 18.06.2019 regarding Revival of BSNL 

GS writes to Shri. P. K. Purwar, CMD & DIR(HR)/BSNL: Request for Formal Agenda meeting with minutes to the Recognised Executives Association, SNEA.

GS writes to Shri. Sheetla Prasad Tripathi, Director (CM), BSNL Board: Request for cancellation of the transfer order of Sh Pavan Kumar Sirothiya (HRMS: 199307752), AGM and Asst Circle Secretary of SNEA on immunity grounds from UPE Circle to Bihar Circle.

GS writes to PGM(Pers): Consideration of request transfer of Shri Unnikrishnan K.G, DGM(Fin) from BSNLCO to KTK Circle.

Lunch hour demonstration was held throughout the country on today 07th August, 2019 under the banner of AUAB. The main demands were: (1) Honouring the commitments given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, to ensure BSNL’s financial viability, (a) Extend immediate financial support to BSNL, for the maintenance of the services and (b) Extend soft loan to BSNL for it’s capital expenditures).

(2) Remove the total ban imposed on capital expenditure by BSNL. Allow field units to carry out capital expenditure, where ever revenue is assured.

(3) No retrenchment. Honour the commitment given on job security at the time of formation of BSNL.

(4) Stop repressive actions for even legitimate trade union activities.

Large number of employees, especially from the field units who are really facing tremendous pressure from the customers / labours/ vendors and the management on non payment participated in the demonstration.

At CHQ GS, President, AGSs, CS&CP/BSNLCO, CP/NTR and Com A P Dahiya lead the demonstration from SNEA side. Com Islam Ahmed, President/NFTE, Com Swapan Chakraborthy, Dy GS/ BSNLEU and other leaders of AUAB addressed the demonstration.

CEC Meeting of UP(East) Circle at Lucknow on 27^th & 28^th July, 2019:

The Circle Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of UP(East) Circle was held at Lucknow on 27th & 28th July, 2019. This meeting was attended by all the branches of UP (East) Circle.

Flag Hoisting was done by Com US Saroj, Circle President. Com A A Khan/CHQ President and Com Sanjeev Kumar Sharma/AGS were also present. All the PHQ Office bearers/DSs presented their report. Lot of healthy discussions were held on the present crisis in BSNL created by various reasons & whole discussion was focused on reducing expenditure & increasing demand for BSNL products in the market for the survival. It was decided that a detailed agenda will be served to the management after compilation of issues raised by the CEC members.

In this meeting, a seminar was organized on the topic When the going gets tough, the tough one gets going - Duties of Management & Workers towards BSNL at present. This seminar was addressed by the Chief Guest Shri R C Rai/ CGMT, Com A A Khan/ CHQ President, Com Sanjeev Kumar Sharma/ AGS, Shri Sarsij Saurabh/ GM(NC), Shri A K Srivastava/ GM(HR/Admin). Key note address was delivered by the Circle Secretary Com A K Trivedi. The venue was fully packed with CEC Members/Executives from all over UP(East) Circle.

Government is systematically killing BSNL. The important decisions of the Government in the recent past makes it clear that the Government is favouring Reliance –Jio, at the cost of BSNL, its own PSU. Non allotment of 4G spectrum, non-filling of Director (Finance) and other Director posts of BSNL for years together, non-granting of permission for Bank loan etc are few examples which establishes that the hidden agenda of Government is to finish off BSNL. Publicly they makes postures that Government wants to revive BSNL and practically doing just reverse.

Since the Government support had not came, the employees struggled and gathered public support which compelled the Government to support BSNL and to take correct policy decisions in time. This was done only due to the employees struggle. Our struggle was for that purpose with the sole agenda of revival of BSNL. Our three days strike had made tremendous impact in the political circles and the establishment had produced some positive results. DoT started acting fast on some of our demands, decisively, after the strike. Permission given for Bank loan for OPEX, a positive reply sent to Ministry of Finance on Pension contribution on actual basic pay which was pending for years together etc are some positive actions. DoT is acting very fast of revival package and draft Cabinet memo is already prepared and under circulation to various nodal ministries.

After the seminar, Com AA Khan President CHQ & Com Sanjeev Kumar Sharma AGS also addressed the house on Company/HR/Organisational issues. Com CHQ President explained in detail about the status of HR issues like Promotions in various cadres, E2/E3 pay scales, 30% superannuation benefit to BSNL directly recruited employees, CPSU Cadre hierarchy implementation, 3^rd Pay Revision, Pension Revision, pay loss for post 2007 rects, 1st TBP in 4 years, E1A/E2A for Civil/Elect/Arch etc. Due to the severe financial crisis and salary issue, the HR issues having financial implications are not getting the attention of BSNL Management and DoT.   

Com Sanjeev Sharma/ AGS explained in detail the Role of Association for a company like BSNL. He clearly told that unless and until HR issues of Executives are resolved (e.g. Standard pay scales, 30% superannuation benefits, CPSU hierarchy, etc), it is difficult for a company like BSNL to defeat its competitors.  He explained in detail how some negative forces in BSNL are working to derail the whole HR process by dragging every HR issue into the court. Their sole agenda is to see that no HR issue is getting settled in favour of the Executives so that SNEA can be blamed. Those negative forces are not bothered about the welfare of the Executives or the career progress, other than personal agenda.

Com President and Com AGS replied all the queries related to CHQ raised by our CEC members.

View Glimpse of Photos.

The list of SSA wise Land line connections are given below. The SSAs having less than 20,000 landline connections and headed by a GM and the SSAs having more than 20,000 connections but there is no GM is posted may be informed to CHQ at the earliest. Similarly, SSAs where more than one GM is posted also may be intimated by CSs to take up with the management.

Lunch hour demonstration today 07th August, 2019 by AUAB:

Demands:

(1) Honouring the commitments given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, to ensure BSNL’s financial viability.

(a) Extend immediate financial support to BSNL, for the

maintenance of the services.

(b) Extend soft loan to BSNL for it’s capital expenditures.

(2) Remove the total ban imposed on capital expenditure by BSNL. Allow field units to carry out capital expenditure, where ever revenue is assured.

(3) No retrenchment. Honour the commitment given on job security at the time of formation of BSNL.

(4) Stop repressive actions for even legitimate trade union activities.

Comrades, the services are getting affected, connections are started disconnecting and revenue is coming down and by stopping all the capital works, new source of income also stopped. The Management decision to stop all the capital works will only accelerate the down fall of BSNL. Govt and BSNL management is not able to provide the required fund for maintaining the network. Thousands of crores of BSNL money is blocked in DoT on various accounts.

Govt’s commitment at the time of formation of BSNL that “Govt will ensure the Financial Viability of BSNL”.

In this hour of crisis, if the employees remain silent, it will be the last nail on the coffin of BSNL.