Immediately after the discussion of AUAB leaders with the Secretary, DoT and the Minister, one of the Pensioners Associations, out of over enthusiasm or eager to claim credit first, has flashed that DOT decided to delink pension revision from wage revision and the pension will be revised on CPC fitment. It is a false statement intended to make confusion amongst the pensioners.

What is the reality.?

Of course, it is a fact that DoT agreed for delinking pension revision from wage revision, subject to approval of the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare.

The fitment factor was not discussed at all. This will be finalized only after getting the approval of delinking.

It will definitely take some time to complete all these formalities and not to expect orders immediately, as has been propagated by the ‘flashers”.

Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary has met  Shri.S.K.Jain, DDG (Estt) , DoT on 04-12-2018 in this connection. DDG was of the opinion that CPC fitment is not feasible and will attract unnecessary comments and objections from the nodal ministries even if DoT agrees. And the practical solution is 3^rd PRC fitment.

A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT OF THE UNITED STRUGGLE OF AUAB

PENSIONERS INDEBTED TO THE GREAT GESTURE OF UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF BSNL.

As briefly reported earlier, the indefinite strike called by AUAB has been deferred after a detailed discussion with Shri.Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications on 03-12-2018. This was in continuation of the talk held with Secretary, DoT on 02-12-2018.

The Minister has taken a positive stand on the issues of 4G spectrum to BSNL, Pension contribution according to basic pension and delinking pension revision from wage revision for which the DoT has already initiated action and Minister asked the DoT officers to expedite the process.

However on wage revision no final agreement could be reached.. The Minister asked the DoT and BSNL management to prepare a viable proposal which needed some more time.

The meeting of AUAB held thereafter reviewed the situation threadbare and decided to defer the strike till further notice.

In the given circumstances , it is a good decision and we congratulate and thank AUAB for this remarkable settlement. We may have to continue the fight for the main demand, the wage revision, if no positive decision come through within a reasonable time.

As far as pensioners are concerned, AIBDPA has maintained the perception since its inception, that any major issue of the pensioners could be achieved only by involvement and struggle of the employees movement. It is vindicated once again through this settlement.

It is regretted to inform that Shri.Pritam Singh, father of Com.Balbir Singh, President, BSNLEU passed away on 02-12-2018 at Ludhiana and was cremated on 03-12-2018. He was very active till he breathed his last and used to attend the BSNLEU conferences held at Ludhiana.

CHQ conveys heartfelt condolences to Com.Balbir Singh and his family members.

Punjab Circle Branch has been defunct for some time long and CHQ has nominated Com. Balvinder Singh of Ludhiana as the Circle Co-Ordinator to revive the functioning.

Now, on 30-11-2018, it is reported that Ludhiana District Branch is revived and new set of office bearers elected. The meeting of the pensioners held at Bharat Nagar Telephone Exchange on 30-11-2018 was presided over by Com.Gurcharan Singh. Com. Balvinder Singh, Circle Co-Ordinator explained the issues as well as organisational position.

Thereafter, the meeting elected the office bearers unanimously with the following important functionaries.

President : Com. Ashok Kumar  , District Secretary : Com.Balvinder Singh and Treasurer : Com.Pawittar Singh  

Veteran leader of erstwhile E-III(NFPTE) Union of Calcutta Telephones Com. Santosh Chatterjee has breathed his last at 12-50 pm today (3/12/18) at Nil Ratan Sarkar Hospital, Kolkata, where he had been admitted few days ago. He was 89 and a bachelor. Com. Chatterjee had played a valient role in the Strikes of 1960, 1968 & 1974 and suffered various victimisation.

Comrades A. K. Bhattacharjee, Supriya Mitra, D. Basu, Swastika Dasgupta, Sanjib Banerjee, Mihir Dasgupta and other leaders of AIBDPA paid respectful homage to the departed leader.

CHQ expresses deep sorrow and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and comrades of Kolkata.

ALL UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF BSNL(AUAB)

Talks are held between the Secretary, Telecom, and the AUAB, today the 02-12-2018. It is observed that improvements are there in the issues of allotment of 4G spectrum, Pension Revision and Payment of Pension Contribution by BSNL as per government rule. However, deadlock is prevailing in the issue of 3rd Pay Revision. The AUAB is not convinced with the reply given by the Secretary, Telecom, on the status of this issue.

Under these circumstances, with the view to ensure an opportunity for having a discussion with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, the AUAB has decided to defer the indefinite strike for one week. In case a fruitful settlement does not arise in the meeting with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, the indefinite strike will start from 00:00 hours on 10-12-2018.
-P.Abhimanyu,GS.

BSNL employee unions allege govt patronising Reliance Jio; plan indefinite strike from December 3.

BSNL employee unions claimed that the govt has not allotted spectrum for 4G services to BSNL in order to prevent it from competing against Reliance Jio. The Union said in a statement, “Whole telecom industry is in a crisis due to the predatory pricing of Reliance Jio.” It alleged that Reliance Jio will steeply raise call and data tariffs once the entire competition is wiped out.

Blaming Reliance Jio for financial woes of the telecom sector, employee unions of BSNL on Wednesday alleged that the government was favouring the latest entrant over other firms and said they will go on an indefinite strike from December 3.
The employee unions claimed that the government has not allotted spectrum for 4G services to BSNL in order to prevent it from competing against Reliance Jio.

Reliance Jio did not comment on the allegations. “As of now, the whole telecom industry is gripped with a crisis…All these have happened due to the predatory pricing of the Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio. The whole game plane of Reliance Jio is to wipe out its competitors, which includes the state owned BSNL,” BSNL unions said in a joint statement.

All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) alleged that with its huge financial muscle, Reliance Jio is offering services at ‘below-cost’ rates. It said that private telecom companies like Aircel, Tata Teleservices, Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications and Telenor have already closed their mobile service businesses.
It alleged that Reliance Jio will steeply raise call and data tariffs once the entire competition is wiped out. “It will loot the people by steeply raising the call and data charges. It is a matter of deep concern that, Reliance Jio is being openly patronised by the Narendra Modi government,” the statement said.
No immediate comments were received from the Prime Minister’s Office. AUAB said the public sector firm has been demanding allotment of 4G spectrum but “the government has turned a deaf ear to this demand, with the ulterior motive of preventing the public sector company from putting up an effective competition to Reliance Jio”.
All officers and workers of BSNL are going on an indefinite strike from December 3, 2018, the AUAB said. “Demands of the strike include the immediate allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL for rolling out its 4G service, implementation of the government rule in respect of payment of pension contribution by BSNL, wage revision of the employees and pension revision of the retirees, from January 1, 2017,” the statement said.
It also alleged that whosoever tried to act against Reliance Jio had to pay the price, including former telecom secretary J S Deepak. “JS Deepak wrote to the TRAI demanding action on Reliance Jio, for adopting predatory pricing. As a result, JS Deepak was instantaneously shunted out of the DoT… This was a clear signal given by the Narendra Modi government, as to what would happen to any one who dares to speak against Rliance Jio,” the unions alleged. Deepak was named India’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when he was abroad to attend the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Spain.
The unions said that BSNL was in a loss of more than Rs 8,800 crore in 2011-12 but due to the combined efforts taken by the employees and the management, the PSU posted an operating profit of Rs 672.57 crore in 2014-15. “BSNL’s improved performance is reflected in the expansion of it’s customer base also. It must be remembered that all these achievements are made by BSNL without 4G technology and with only 2G and 3G technologies, while all the private companies are armed with 4G technology,” the statement said.
Apart from the allotment of 4G spectrum, the AUAB is also demanding the implementation of the government’s rule in the matter of BSNL’s payment of pension contribution. “It is atrocious that, the Narendra Modi government is violating it’s own rule, and is fleecing a huge amount from BSNL every year, in the name of Pension Contribution. This is seriously affecting the financial health of the Company,” the unions said.