The executive associations of BSNL SNEA, AIGETOA, SEWA, and AIBSNLEA collectively and with unified voice stand against the recently issued notification for the recruitment of Senior Executive Trainee (SET) in Telecom and Finance streams at the E3 pay scale. A joint letter submitted to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate withdrawal of the notification and highlighting the widespread resentment among serving executives.
Click here for Joint Letter Submitted to CMD BSNL
The associations have expressed deep anguish and objection over the unilateral decision of the BSNL management to recruit SETs through an open lateral intake without consulting the recognized associations, in violation of the REA Rules 2014.
The Associations Strongly Objected and Pointed Out:
1] Complete Disregard for Internal Talent by BSNL: The SET recruitment ignores thousands of qualified and experienced executives already serving in BSNL who possess the same or higher qualifications and have 10–27 years of relevant experience.
2] Stagnation and Lack of Career Progression: Since BSNL’s inception, executives recruited through competitive processes like GATE and internal upgradations have largely remained in the same grade for 8 to 27 years without meaningful promotions.
3] Demoralizing the Existing Workforce: Bringing in fresh graduates at E3 pay scale without the required experience and placing them above serving JTOs/JAOs and other officers is seen as unjust and demotivating.
4] Ignoring Repeated Representations: This is not the first time such unilateral decisions have been made. Previous requests to prioritize internal promotions and fill key management roles through existing executives have gone unheeded.
5] Biased HR practices: The association highlights past examples such as the discriminatory handling of DR DGM recruitment, where similarly placed BSNL executives were sidelined in favour of external entrants.
6] Direct recruitment of freshers at higher level than JTO/JAO, while ignoring deserving internal talent and unresolved HR/financial grievances, is unjust, erodes executive trust, and impairs organizational effectiveness.
Demand:
1] Immediate withdrawal of the SET recruitment notification and stop any lateral entry in BSNL as being followed in other PSUs.
2] If any fresh recruitment is to be done then the same should be done in the cadres of JEs and JTOs/JAOs who are backbone of the BSNL. We also demand that instead of having bulk recruitment at JTO/JAOs, BSNL should recruit JTOs/JAOs/JEs every year and it should be regular yearly process.
3] f required, for filling vacant post of GM/PGM level in BSNL, a separate methodology and process may be defined to fill these posts from all the serving executives of BSNL.
4] Stop pick and choose applicability of Rules in BSNL and decide on applicability of rules to BSNL i.e. rules applicable to PSU or rules applicable to Government Services and please apply these rules uniformly for resolution of all issues of BSNL
5] Immediate action for Promotions of BSNL executives waiting for their first promotion. All the executives who have completed the residency in the grade must be extended promotions to the next level without any delay as jointly submitted by us.
6] Discuss the issue of shortage of Officers required at BSNL Managerial Position and to frame a methodology to fill vacant posts as followed in PSUs.
7] Immediate resolution of the long-pending financial issues including implementation of 3rd PRC, extension of E2 scales for JTO/JAO Equivalent, 30 Percent Contribution to Superannuation Benefits, Revision in TA/DA/ Transport allowances, restoration of previous Medical Reimbursement Limits.
8] The other perks and allowances of serving executives which are presently freezed by quoting financial condition of BSNL should be immediately released.
9] As the freeze on external recruitment is removed, immediate start of Compassionate Ground Appointment with consideration of the dependents of all the executives who left for their heavenly abode in all these years.
We urge the management to reconsider and act in the best interests of both the Executives and the organization. There is huge unrest in BSNL executives because of such unilateral actions by BSNL and it will be difficult to control the emotions of executives if management continues to deny the rightful dues and continues to engage in such unilateral actions. In such scenario, the responsibility of any industrial unrest will lie solely on Management.
