Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Veerabhadra Rao AIP, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Badri Mehta FS and Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AGS held meeting with Dir HR and PGM SR on 05.07.2022.

The matter of reminder letter for E2-E3 Scale to DoT, AGM Promotion, harassment of Executives and Members by Ludhiana BA Head (Punjab), Opening of deputation was discussed in length. The issuance of the promotion order by the DOP&T in CSS and cadres was brought to the knowledge and copy of order was shared. It was apprised that executives are feeling frustrated and working in extreme anger due to the stalemate created by management for signature of welfare association for executing promotion. The issue of promotion order by the DOPT once again embolden our belief that management is unnecessarily bringing SEWA BSNL in picture on the matter of reservation in promotion . Whatever the guidelines and directions of DoPT available should be implemented and promotion should be executed instead of waiting for certificate from the association. We warned that failure to issue the promotion order soon will create serious turmoil in the organization and hence it must be addressed without further wastage of time. Director HR echoed our concern and assured to look into the matter afresh in the light of the issuance of promotion order by DOPT and he will take up with CMD BSNL.

The reminder letter of E2-E3 to DoT in view of the disagreeing letter by the department of Telecom was also highlighted and demanded to send the letter to reiterate our stand on standard pay scale. Our meeting in DoT last week has asked for such letter. So, we requested to immediately sending of the letter to the DoT. The opening of deputation was also discussed in view of the recent opening in TRAI and the matter of harassment of executives and members of AIGETOA in Ludhiana by the BA head were brought in the notice and details were apprised. It was told that selective targeting of employees by GMTD and using his office for pity politics is highly condemnable and the situation at the station is very pathetic and volatile. So, we requested immediate intervention of the Director HR. A formal letter of complaint on Ludhiana issue was also handed over. We finally reminded that the association will not keep waiting endlessly and if the promotion is not issued, E2-E3 follow up not made to the DoT and management didn’t heed on various HR issues of the employees, the association will be forced to give a call of organizational action after 15-July.

It was assured to us that issues will be looked into and necessary action will be taken for solution. The deputation issue will need further deliberation as a policy matter.

The Central Executive Committee meet of All India Graduate Engineers & Telecom Officers Association (AIGETOA) was held on 22th June-2022 at Conference Hall, Western Court New Delhi. Shri Ravi Shil Verma Chairman, Shri Veer Bhadhra Rao AIP and Shri Wasi Ahmad General Secretary attended the meeting along with other Central Governing Body Members attended the meeting, which was held first time in physical mode after the recently concluded All India Conference. The meeting was held in the backdrop of the burning issue of the Standard Pay Scale E2-E3 and recent communication of DoT on the matter of scale and association efforts in the direction, Pay Loss Issue, Promotions in view of the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court/DOP&T Order on the matter of Reservation in Promotion, Long awaited SDE Reversal Issue, SDE Seniority Issue, Superannuation Benefits pendency, Rule-8/Rule-9, Organizational matters, OTP Cases etc.

In the CEC meeting, a dedicated Pay Loss committee was formed under the leadership of Shri Sunil Gautam Ji to specifically take up the matter in parallel to the association efforts for the permanent solution of the decade long problem. The Committee will be dedicatedly working for the solution of the Standard Pay Scale of E2-E3 issue by exploring all possible means with the support of resources from AIGETOA CHQ including travelling/lodging/boarding of the Team for the purpose. Some leaders have been finalized and further will be inducted by inviting persons from suffering batches/streams from across the BSNL to be part of the Team and it will be finalized in consultation of General Secretary and Shri Sunil Gautam Ji.

HR Issues, BSNL development Issues and Organization matters discussed in detailed and various decisions were taken in the meeting. Other Committees were also formed under leadership of various CHQ OBs for larger outreach and raising wider range of subjects, whose details will be shared subsequently.

The matter of AGM & CAO Promotion was also discussed in detail and the participants expressed serious anguish over the approach of the BSNL Management in delaying the AGM and CAO Promotion. It is very unfortunate that despite of the judgment by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Reservation in Promotion and subsequent Executive Instructions by the DOP&T on the subject, BSNL management is looking for excuses every next day and delaying the AGM/CAO Promotion. The executives are at extreme unrest and the approach of the matter is only adding fuel to fire. The Central Governing Body observed that the further delay may result in serious breach of peace in the organization. It was unanimously decided to convey the management that if promotions were not issued by 30th June, the association will force to seek organizational recourse. BSNL has already done extreme injustice by lowering the seniority of the LDCE Qualified Executives by placing earlier Vacancy Years LDCE Promoted SDEs below to the later Vacancy Years DPC Promoted SDEs. As the SDE Seniority list 9 to13 is already challenged in the Hon’ble Court, the only way forward to set right the injustice is to promote all SDEs to address the discrepancy in the seniority as done in 2018 by the same BSNL Management. It was categorically decided that keeping the promotion on hold due to one reason or other can’t be accepted and management must move ahead on the issue of Promotion else ready to face the resentment of the employees.

Further details of the meeting will follow….

Click here for glimpses of the meeting

Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Ravi Shil Verma Chairman, Shri Veer Bhadhra Rao AIP and Shri Wasi Ahmad General Secretary, Shri Pavan Akhand Dy GS, Shri D K Sahoo VP, Shri Suresh Kumar S JS(South) and Shri R N Mishra JS(Central) met  CMD BSNL at 10.30 Hrs on 22.06.2022 before the start of the CEC Meeting.

The issue of SDE to AGM Promotion and CAO Promotion was discussed prominently to gauge the stand of the management on the issue to take further decision. The association apprised that management has hold various meeting jointly with AIGETOA, SEWA and SNEA. All the three associations has concurred methodology put forward by the management and no reluctances was shown by either one. One MoM has already been signed by all three Associations along with PGM SR and CLO (on behalf of BSNL Management) for joint meeting held on dated 12.05.2022 under the chairmanship of Director HR, BSNL Board, New Delhi.

It was apprised that standoff on the issue of Promotion due to insistence of the management for signature on new declaration is creating a new trend, which never happened in BSNL. We told that the association is least bother about the signature of any particular person or organisation but only concerned with the Promotion in the AGM and CAO Grade. Even if it is required by the management, it should made efforts in the direction but ensure the promotion at the earliest to address the serious unrest in the field. It was once again raised in the meeting, how BSNL Management reverted its own decision and lowered the seniority of the SDEs resulting senior vacancy  years LDCE Qualified SDEs going down than the later vacancy years DPS promoted SDEs. The only way forward to extend the justice is to promote all SDEs and let the subjudice seniority decide by the Hon’ble Court later.

BSNL CO issued letter for grant of special casual leave to the office bearers/delegates of AIGETOA for attending the CHQ meeting on 22nd June 2022 at New Delhi.

Click here for letter

Meeting of all the three associations i.e. AIGETOA, SNEA and SEWA was held with CMD BSNL in his chamber at 18:40 Hrs on the issue of Promotions in all wings and grades/cadres and lasted for about 45 minutes.

The Association side was represented by Shri Ravi Shil Verma , Shri Veerabhadra Rao, Shri Wasi Ahmad & Shri Badri Mehta from AIGETOA, Shri M. S. Adasul, Shri Vimal Raghunath & Shri Padmanabha Rao from SNEA and Shri R. A. Meena and Shri Mukesh Ahlawat from SEWA.

All associations apprised CMD BSNL about the necessacity to include all eligible SDEs for promotion to AGM so as to avoid any future litigations on the same but CMD didn’t agreed on the proposal citing the legal complexities. Associations also apprised CMD BSNL about the ways to increase the vacancies to maximise the promotions to include maximum eligible executives in Telecom and other streams and wings also.

It was informed that all associations are agreeable about the methodology going to be adopted by management on reservations but the issue is of signature.

CMD responded positively about three association came together on issue of reservations in promotions and appreciated the approach but categorically told that he may not be able to move forward without signature of the agreement by the associations considering the pending legality.

CMD BSNL also informed that number of vacancies for which SDE to AGM promotions has been decided is strictly on the basis of available vacancies by deducting 1500 working AGM/ DGM Adhoc from the DPC Quota of 3600 vacancies i.e. about 2100 vacancies. CMD BSNL stated that as of now, he can’t agree to the proposal for increasing of vacancies for accommodating all eligible SDEs by way of diversion or other mechanism considering the legal complexities. He will move in step wise only in this promotion. He said, first he will go for promotion to this many vacancies and after 2-3 months, he can review it as suggested by associations. If things goes on smoothly, he is not averse to making more promotion in due course of time same year.

CMD BSNL categorically stated that he will go ahead with SDE to AGM Promotions only if all three associations are agreeing to the proposal and methodology adopted by management regarding reservations in promotions by signing the undertaking by all three associations to move forward. As BSNL SLP is still pending and legal finality has not reached finality. In case of non agreement with signature, he will wait for the Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgement on BSNL SLP.

He told that he is not compelling associations to sign and accept methodology of promotions in BSNL, but firmly shared that promotions are not possible without written consent by all three Associations as he doesn’t want litigations and complexities in future. Discussion on promotions in other streams were also held but CMD said that these things can be discussed later once SDE to AGM discussion concluded positively.

Promotion regardimg AO to CAO was also discussed and CMD has been once again requested to extend relaxation of 15/16 days to end the stalemate and promote most of the AO to CAO to motivate all of them as well as it will be in the interest of BSNL. It was apprised that it will also give way for clearance of legal hurdles. CMD assured to look into this aspect.

The three associations had meeting before meeting CMD BSNL and after the meeting also and decided to discuss these issues further before reverting to CMD BSNL and taking a final call on the matter.

Finally, we apprised CMD about growing resentment and once again requested to reconsider our submission.

Thus as on today there is no change in status of AGM promotions and visible progress in SDE to AGM. The only appreciable progress lies in the fact that matter has been explained and discussed in detail with CMD BSNL. We will revert back in next 2-3 days once a decision is taken in this regard.s

As per provisions in the constitution of AIGETOA and subsequent discussion/decisions, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) Meet cum CWC of AIGETOA Central Governing Body is hereby notified to be hold as per the given schedule.

Click here for letter

The schedule is as follows:

Date & Time : 22nd June’2022 (Wed) from 10:00 to 20:00 hrs

Venue : New Delhi (Detail venue will be informed subsequently)

Chairman Shri Ravi Shil Verma, JS AIGETOA Shri Amit Roy and AGS Shri Vivek Kumar Singh met PGM SR and conveyed in non ambiguous terms that now with a broad consensus reached between all stake holders, management should not delay the promotions anymore. We said any delay and deviation from the earlier agreed assurances is not at all acceptable now. Association will have to resort to hard organization actions if management doesn’t realizes the seriousness of the prevailing resentment amongst the Executives.

The three Associations had earlier decided to meet CMD BSNL, however due to non availability of GS SNEA at Delhi for today and tomorrow, we have scheduled the meeting with CMD BSNL on Monday.

We can’t wait endlessly and we will take a final call on the issue of Promotions after meeting CMD on Monday. This will be our last attempt to resolve the issue in an amicable manner and thereafter we will change the approach to end this unnecessarily delay tactics.

Team AIGETOA comprising of Chairman Shri RaviShil Verma, Shri Vivek Kumar Singh AGS-2, Shri Sunil Gautam AGS -5 and Joint Secretary Shri Amit Roy held meeting with Sr GM Estt as follow up meeting on the Pay Scale issue.

AIGETOA has taken up again the matter of standard scale with PGM Estt and apprised about the discussions held with Dir HR on dated 03-06-2022 wherein Team AIGETOA has apprised Dir HR that we had a discussion on standard scale with Joint Secretary Admin at DoT, with DDG PM and Deputy Secretary. In the discussions, we appraised the DoT, that BSNL official are very disappointed on the letter issued by DoT on the matter and categorically pointed out that DoT had issued wrong letter as it is not in line with the DPE guidelines and BSNL proposal. With our strong arguments, the soft change in stand of DoT was quite visible. The same development has been shared with Dir HR and we requested his office for sending the BSNL stand on the letter of DoT dated 29-04-2022. we demanded that BSNL must reiterate its earlier stand which was conveyed by CMD BSNL vide their letter dated 01-05-2017.

Today was the follow up meeting with PGM Estt regarding the Dir HR meeting. We requested PGM Estt to take up the issue once again with DoT as per our discussion held with Director HR. PGM Estt assured that he will discuss with Director HR for the same.

We shall be following up the matter again with PGM Estt after discussion with Dir HR. Thereafter, discussion was also held on pending rule 8 cases specially with regard to HP and J&K Circles. Sr GM Estt assured to intervene with circles to ensure the clearance of pending Rule 8 cases.

Meeting of all the three associations i.e. AIGETOA, SNEA and SEWA was held with Director HR in presence of PGM Pers, PGM SR and CLO on the issue of Promotions in all wings and grades/cadres. The Association side was represented by Shri Ravi Shil Verma and Shri Amit Roy from AIGETOA, Shri M S Adasul and Shri Vimal Raghunath from SNEA and Shri N D Ram and Shri R A Meena from SEWA.

Director HR shared the view of management on the proposed methodology and stated that they are committed on Promotions of all wings and all cadres. Discussion was held in a positive direction to go ahead with the promotions. Management agreed for extending the percentage of representation in accordance with the roster prepared as per DoP&T guidelines.

Next round of meeting will be held very shortly. We are hopeful of positive outcome very soon.

GS AIGETOA has once again taken up the matter of AGM/CAO Equivalent Promotion with CMD BSNL today. In a conversation, he requested CMD BSNL for his kind intervention to expedite the process in view of the delay in execution of the promotion despite of the clearance by the DoPT Executive Instruction. He was apprised about the growing resentment in the fields due to inordinate delay happening to issue the order. GS apprised about the detailed meeting of the association with the Director HR on the matter. GS also apprised about the discussions held with various other stake holders on the matter of Reservation in Promotion by the association. CMD BSNL gave a patience hearing and assured to take needful action in this regard. We are hopeful that the process will further speed up with the intervention of the CMD BSNL.