Team AIGETOA comprising of Shri Ravi Shil Verma AIP, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS and Shri Badri Kumar Mehta met with the CMD BSNL in the afternoon and again the team comprising of Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Badri Kumar Mehta VP and Shri Vaibhav Goyal CHQ Adv met Dir HR in the evening for more than an hour on 12.07.2021 to lodge the protest against the unreasonable Speaking Order released on 09.07.2021 and demand for the promotion in grades and sufficient posts in restructuring.

Speaking Order and seniority list: The association lodged strong protest and argued against the unreasonable speaking order with both CMD & Dir HR and demanded to consider the demand of association to not go ahead to revise the seniority list and wait for the legal opinion to reach. It was told to them that the released order is against the basic ethos of the SDE RR 2002 which defines the Quota for LDCE and SCF in each vacancy year. It is a gross injustice to place and LDCE qualified SDE of VY 2006-07 below to 2008-09 SCF Promoted SDE in the seniority list. This thought process of denying justice to the meritorious executives due to one reason or other has always causes loss to the BSNL Recruited Employees and a setback to the organisation. The CMD BSNL and Director HR have given positive assurance to consider our requests.

Restructuring & Promotion: The CMD and Dir HR agreed with concern of the association that stagnation in same grade beyond a reasonable period by the executives is detrimental for the organisation growth. We argued that every executive has a right to grow in his career to a sufficient position in his career life but the initial proposal of the Man Power Planning is totally contrary to the principle due to drastic reduction in the promotion post. The CMD and Director HR both asked to submit the presentation on the restructuring by the due date of 16.07.2021. We demanded for holding of a restructuring meeting with the association and management under chairmanship of the CMD BSNL, to which he agreed. The CMD BSNL told that he is ready to listen the view points of the association and not averse to the promotion of our officers. The association will be holding meeting with CMD BSNL soon after the submission of proposal. The promotion of the AGM and CAO grades were also discussed with the Director (HR) but it was apprised by him that due to SLP filed in Hon’ble SC, the promotion on these posts is not feasible till decision on the SLP. The association demanded to extend one promotion to all executives including AGM/CAO, who have completed their residency period in the substantive grade.

DPC for left JTOs of 2008 batch: We requested the Director (HR) that left out JTOs of 2008 batch are completely frustrated and so their promotion should be ensured. We apprised him that recalculating of vacancies can give sufficient number of posts to cater the need. The Dir(HR) agreed to our request and assured to direct the Pers Cell for the same. We also demanded holding of LDCEs for SDET and LICE for JTOs for all pending vacancy years at a short interval of one month time separately to which he agreed and apprised that the management is also contemplating to hold the LDCE for SDE and LICE for JTO on immediate basis. This is also one of our long pending demands.

ERP Posting: It was apprised to the Dir HR that it was agreed by the Dir CFA to accommodate all remaining executives of ERP in NCR who couldn’t get posted in ERP modules. He assured to settle all cases within NCR as per their request. The available list of 13 request cases of ERP Ghaziabad handed over to the Dir HR for their choice posting.

GS AIGETOA taken up the matter with Dir (HR) on 9th July Morning about left out of candidates and appraised the serious resentment prevailing across the BSNL and demanded to address the issue immediately. The Director (HR) has assured to address the issue and advised all such executives to have patience and management is committed for the solution. The Director(HR) also agreed to hold the LDCE very soon and subsequent.

Team AIGETOA with GS, VP, AGS met the above authorities in BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi on various issues as discussed in the agenda meeting. The issuance of E2-E3 letter, Rule-9 Policy for the temporary transfer of JTO/JAO were discussed with Sr GM(Estt) on which he apprised that some calculation are going on after it finishes the E2 letter will be approved and issues and Rule-9 policy is already in movement and he is waiting for its approval.  

The team met with GM(Recruitment) and enquired about the status of holding the LDCE Exam and apprised about our discussion with the Director(HR) on holding the LDCE. The GM(Rect) appraised that major of the activities related with the process has been completed and the matter will be taken up with the competent authority. The Team also met with the CLO and requested for revisit the roaster register for true calculation of vacancies as well requested for preparing and finalization of the roaster register for next year at the earliest.  

Today, All Unions and Associations of BSNL hold a crucial meeting with Shri P K Purwar, CMD BSNL in presence of full BSNL Board. The General Secretaries and Representatives of AIGETOA, BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, SEWA BSNL, BSNL MS, SNATTA, AITEEA, BSNL ATM, TEPU, BSNL OA and BEA participated in this meeting. AIGETOA was represented by the General Secretary. The Director (HR), Director (CFA), Director (CM), Director (EB), Director (Finance) and Senior Officers of the Corporate Office participated from the management side.

The leaders forcefully demanded prompt up gradation of the BTSs for immediate launch of BSNL’s 4G service. Immediate payment of salary of June month and regular salary on due date of every month was prominently raised. Improving the FTTH service, improving the maintenance of transmission, Cluster System, landline and broadband services, Battery and Power Plant etc. were raised. The Government’s plan for raising Rs 40,000 Cr by monetizing BSNL’s towers and optic fiber was severely opposed. Proposals of the Management for Man Power Restructuring of BSNL came under severe criticism. Regarding the Superannuation Benefits, it was firmly demanded that BSNL Management should immediately take steps to increase its contribution up to 30%. The BSNL Management’s policy of continuing to rely on the ITS officers to run the Company was severely criticized. Many other l related to the employees and the Company’s revival was also raised.

Shri Badri Kumar Mehta Vice President and Shri Sudhakar Pathak Org Sec HQ met PGM(Pers) in his chamber and held elaborate discussion on following issues.

JTO to SDE DPC:

The team enquired about the progress for JTO to SDE Promotion through DPC. It was intimated once again that serious resentment is prevailing in the cadre of JTOs. A timeline of June 30th was fixed for the issuance of promotion but the progress is not visible inspite of passage of two weeks. He intimated that all necessary formalities for DPC have been readied and clearance from the court is wanted to move ahead and the order will be issued after the verdict of Hon’ble Jabalpur CAT.

Publishing of JAO Gradation list:

It was reminded to him that issuance of the JAO Gradation List was an item of the second agenda meeting of the recognized association i.e. AIGETOA held with the management under chairmanship of the Director(HR) on 11.06.2021, where it was categorical assured to issue the JAO Gradation List within the June, 2021. But the list is not issued till date despite of passage of two weeks of the meeting. We requested for immediate publication of the list. The PGM Per told that everything is ready and the same will be published as per the committed timeline. We extended thank to the PGM Pers for this firm assurance.

Click here for the letter submitted by AIGETOA

Finalisation of SDE seniority List 9 for the Vacancy Year 2006-07:

It was once again argued by the team that the provisional list was prepared after considering all aspects prevailing on the date i.e. the provisions of the recruitment rule and its amendment and no materialistic change has made since then and so the list should be finalized in same pattern extending quota in the particular vacancy year and subsequent list should also be prepared. It was once again requested to finalize the list-9 for vacancy year 2006-07 by extending quota within the vacancy year to ensure justice and due consideration of the merit of the competitive quota executives.

The proposed second formal agenda meeting of dated 10.05.2021 of AIGETOA with the management has been rescheduled by mutual agreement between the association and management in view of the expected Board Meeting to be held on 11.05.021 for creation of Benevolent Fund as discussed in the associations and unions meeting with management on 6th May-2021 over ZOOM.

Now, the proposed meeting of AIGETOA will be held on the next working day of the Board Meeting as decided in the discussion held between the association and Sr GM SR, BSNL CO New Delhi. The association agreed to reschedule the meeting in the light of the fact that creation of Benevolent Fund was initially spearheaded by AIGETOA, which was later welcomed by the management and the works in its direction started by the management to get it realize in a time frame and the proposal of AIGETOA for equal contribution by Employer and Employees was also agreed by all stakeholders. Hence considering sensitivity of the issue of creation of the Benevolent Fund, we agreed to reschedule the meeting by 2-3 days.

A meeting was convened by the management today to discuss upon the modalities of creating a benevolent fund for all the employees who met untimely death due to Covid.

AIGETOA was represented by ALL India President Shri Ravi Shil Verma and General Secretary Shri Wasi Ahmad. Other participants in the meeting were President SNEA, GS SEWA, GS and President NFTE and GS BSNLEU. From management side meeting was attended by Committee members i.e. Shri R K Goyal, PGM Pers, Shri A. M. Gupta, Sr GM Admin, Ms Anita Johari, Sr GM SR and Shri K.D Chirania, Sr GM Finance.

We put forward the following points before the committee:

1. Creating of a Corpus immediately to provide an adequate compensation to the family of the Employees who met untimely death in last one year and from hereinafter for all such cases. Management should pay and equal contribution matching to the contribution by Employees. This fund should be reviewed and recouped every time, there is deficit. We also suggested that this fund should be made operational permanently by making a monthly contribution by employees and employer. It was also told that the contribution by Employee should be refunded back to him at the time of retirement. This will promote maximum Employees to participate in the scheme.
2. To immediately restart the CGA appointment for all those who met death due to Covid -19, by considering this as death on duty.
3. To immediately pay the pending SAB and GPF contribution and make the fund Up to date.
4. To enhance the SAB Contribution for BSNL Recruits to 30% of the Basic plus DA.
5. Immediately disbursement of Salary and we put the displeasure of association on record that even during this critical time, the disbursement of Salary was not prioritised.

A broad consensus has been arrived at the following:

1. Family of the Diseased Employee should be extended with an immediate compensation of Rs 10 lacs. Currently it will cover death due to Covid to overcome the unprecedented emergency scenario. Employees will contribute ONE DAY salary and BSNL will contribute equally. This will be a voluntary contribution and those don’t want to be in the Corpus, may kept themselves out. If shortfall of funds occur, further contribution (one time/monthly) can be asked from Employees in due course of time.

Decision to include all deaths shall be taken subsequently once this emergency phase is over.

2. Proposal to reinstate the CGA appointment shall be conveyed to management for decision by the board.
3. Need for immediate disbursal of Salary to Employees shall be conveyed to management firmly.
4. The proposals suggested by AIGETOA and supported by other association and unions on SAB, EPF & GPF pending Payment and enhancement of SAB quantum will also be put up before the CMD/Directors.

We extend our thanks to the leaders, i.e. GS SEWA, President SNEA, GS BSNLEU, GS & President NFTE for support and arriving consensus for above measures. We acknowledge the efforts initiated by the management and hope that some tangible results will be visible on all points as mentioned above.

President, AIGETOA and CHQ team met various officers at CO on Monday, 12th April and had an elaborate discussion on implementation of alternate day working pattern in view of the exponential surge in COVID cases. Management assured to look into the matter with positive consideration.

Shri Ravi Shil Verma AIP, Shri Wasi Ahmad GS, Shri Badri Kumar Mehta VP and Shri Vivek Kumar Singh OS met CMD BSNL and discussed issues of the departmental importance as well as executives long pending cadre related issues on 26th March, 2021.

The team took up the issue of timely payment of salary i.e. on last working day and availability of the fund for the field units for the electricity payment, IP sites payment, clearance of temporary advance of the executives and other liabilities. The CMD BSNL informed that he has cleared many long pending liabilities in the current month and will be providing further support to smoothen the field services. On the timely salary, he was non-committal inspite of our stress to ensure regularisation of the salary on last working days, which is continuing since more than a year. We raised the matter of 4G roll out as viability of the BSNL is not possible without early rollout of the services. He apprised that the management is determined for it and he will be further updating on the issue after a week. In the meantime, we have come to know that some positive movement is going on the 4G roll out at DoT.

On restructuring and promotional issues, he once again emphasized that the JTO to SDE Promotion has no obstacle from management side and it will be released, once the clearance is received from Hon’ble Jabalpur CAT. He once again told that other promotions will be explored only after the restructuring figure is locked, which is still incomplete. We reminded that he has assured to complete the exercise by March in the last meeting and the executives are completely frustrated and enraged due to complete deadlock on HR front and so the exercise should be completed immediately. The CMD BSNL asked to wait up to second week of April for final picture, another timeline assurance.

Earlier in the last week, we have a detailed discussion with the Director(HR) for more than two hours on 22.03.2021 and thereafter separate meeting with PGM(Pers), Sr GM(A), Sr GM(SR), Sr GM(Estab) and apprised each and every issues pertaining to them i.e. Promotions, Settlement of LDCE 2007 SDE Reversion issue, List-9 finalisation and circulation of subsequent lists, Restructuring, Standard Pay Scale E2-E3 persuasion to the DoT, formation of Committee of Pay Loss of 22820/- & E1+5 increment, Removal of discriminatory clause of Rule-8 applicable to only GATE JTOs, Revision of Bond Period and Bond Amount, Preparation of JAO gradation List, Settlement of Rule-8 and Rule-9 transfer Cases and capturing of request through online mechanism, Group Health Insurance Scheme by BSNL, Opening of deputation Channel for all executives and holding of the 2nd Formal Agenda Meeting with AIGETOA.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE RECOGNITION OF HR ISSUES OF THE EXECUTIVES IS NOT AT ALL IN PRIORITY LIST OF MANAGEMENT. THEY ARE VIRTUALLY TREATING THE EXECUTIVES AS BONDED LABOURERS, WHO DESERVE NOT MORE THAN THE SALARY, WHICH IS ALSO BEING NOT GIVEN ON TIME SINCE MORE THAN A YEAR.

Although, association tried its best to resolve the issues through dialogue and persuasion in an amicable manner as we kept in mind the delicate situation in which BSNL is placed and organisation unrest should have been the last thing which BSNL could have afforded. But it is equally true that dissatisfaction level of all the executives has reached its limit and settlement of the long pending issues will actually take our beloved organisation BSNL towards prosperity. The time has come to raise the voice for our legitimate rights through any means including organisational action in the best interest of our beloved BSNL also as continued neglect of hr issues is denting the morale of employees, which will ultimately harm BSNL. So, in the best interest of the organization as well as the executives, AIGETOA has decided to initiate organizational action program and notice to this effect shall be served in the first week itself.

ALL THE OFFICE BEARERS AT CHQ, CIRCLES AND DISTRICTS LEVEL ARE REQUESTED TO MOBILISE THE CADRE ACCORDINGLY.

Team AIGETOA under General Secretary had a meeting with Director HR in presence of PGM Pers, GM Restg, SR GM(Admin), GM(Rect) on 22.03.2021 in the chamber of Dir(HR). We categorically expressed our view point that today we have not come to seek assurances or discuss on the issues. Today we have come to apprise management of the prevailing unrest amongst the rank and file of all executives due to sidelining of all HR issues. If management do not act immediately on the resolution of issues and start confidence building measures by honouring the promises made in agenda meeting with visible progress on ground in the form of outcome, association shall be constrained to start organisational program from April and the responsibility of industrial unrest will solely lie on the management.

However, detailed discussion took place thereafter on HR issues including the issue of regularization of Salary as well as problems faced by executives in day to day operations and maintenance. We also highlighted the certain business decisions like launching of plans where commission to the franchisee is more than the voucher itself.. disconnecting the media connectivity of Power grid without any proper alternative in place etc. We said on one side HR issues are not being settled and on the other side such questionable decisions are demotivating the morale of the executives.

Management said that in another 2-3 weeks, they will try to resolve some issues but we have firmly conveyed to management that if visible progress is not seen by 31.03.2021 and if suitable confidence building measures are not in place, by that time, we will have no other choice but to resort on the strong protest.

We had requested for immediate formation of Committee on Pay Loss of 22820/- and E1+5 increments, issuance of promotions for JTO to SDE , initiation of preparatory exercise for promotions in SDE to AGM and AO to CAO, Permanent settlement of SDE 2007 reversal issue, issuance of clarification with respect to Discriminatory Rule 8 non applicability clause for GATE JTOs, Consideration of Rule 9 cases, opening of deputation, committee formation for streamlining of Bond Period and Bond Amount for GATE JTOs and newly recruited JAOs, Finalization of List 9 on VY basis and Publication of List 10 for next VY, preparation of JAO gradation list etc without any further delay and preparatory for their promotion. We also conveyed our firm stand that we will not accept anything less than as submitted by AIGETOA in the sanctioned strength of SDE, AGM, DGM, AO, CAO and DGM (Fin) in our meeting with restructuring committee under chairmanship of Dir (HR).

The Director HR has assured for firm action in the time frame. We shall be definitely keeping our fingers crossed till that time.

However we call upon all OBs, members and executives to prepare themselves for a long and sustained struggle from April 2021 for the resolution of long pending HR issues related to Pay, Pension and Promotion, regularization of Salary and fulfillment of maintenance requirements of field units and other viability related issues of BSNL. Friends, we have given enough opportunities to the management and hence the onus is now on the management for any industrial unrest and so start mobilization for the struggle.

Together We Can and Together We Will.

Team AIGETOA