SNEA KMB

Meeting between the Secretary (Telecom) and the AUAB:

A meeting between Ms.Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, Telecom and the All Unions and Associations of BSNL(AUAB) was held on 02.11.2018.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS/BSNLEU, Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS/NFTE, Com.K.Sebastin, GS/SNEA, Com.Prahlad Rai,GS/AIBSNLEA, Com.Ravi Shil Verma, GS/AIGETOA, Com.Suresh Kumar,GS/BSNL MS, Com. Revti Prasad, AGS/BSNL ATM, Com. Rashid Khan, AGS/TEPU and Com.H.P.Singh, Dy.GS/BSNL OA participated in the talks on behalf of the AUAB. From the DoT side, Ms. Anuradha Mitra/Member(Finance), Shri Ravi Kant/ Member(Services), Shri.N.Sivasailam/Special Secretary and Shri R. K. Khandelwal/ Joint Secretary(Admn) participated. From the BSNL Management side, Shri Anupam Shrivastava/CMD BSNL, Ms. Sujata Ray/ Director(HR), Shri Saurab Tyagi/Sr GM(Estt), Shri A.M.Gupta/ GM(SR) and Shri Sheo Shankar Prasad/DGM(Estt) participated.

At the outset, the representatives of the AUAB pointed out that DoT failed to take appropriate action to implement the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) in the meeting held on 24-02-2018, in view of which the AUAB has been compelled to go on agitational programme. On the 3rd Pay Revision issue, the Secretary, Telecom assured that the Cabinet Note, for getting the approval of the Cabinet, would be sent at the earliest. The AUAB pointed out that within three months the Pay Revision issue has to be settled fully, otherwise, Parliament elections would be announced, settlement of Pay Revision would become difficult. Secretary informed that some queries are there, it will be raised by DoT to BSNL in a week time. As and when BSNL replies, it will be processed. AUAB demanded the formalities of Cabinet memo to be completed before this month. Secretary, Telecom assured to act fast.

On the issues of allotment of 4G spectrum, Payment of Pension Contribution on the actual basic pay and Pension Revision issues, very useful discussion took place. On the 4G issue, the Cabinet Note has been sent for inter-ministerial consultation, and soon it will go for the approval of the Cabinet. On the issue of Payment of Pension Contribution on actual basic pay instead of maximum of the pay scale, the matter is being recommended for the approval of the Department of Expenditure, with a positive note of the DoT, by next week. On the Pension Revision of BSNL retirees, the Secretary Telecom appeared to be convinced with the arguments of the AUAB, that it should not be linked with the Pay Revision of the serving employees. She directed the Member (Services) to immediately discuss the issue with her. On the 30% Superannuation benefits for the Directly Recruited employees, the Secretary Telecom said that it should be settled by the BSNL. Thereafter CMD assured to examine another 2%.

We got an opportunity to discuss E2/E3 pay scales also eventhough it was not an agenda but related with 2nd PRC issues pending in DoT, on which SS(T) replied that DPE accepted the DoT decision which we countered nicely. We explained that DPE not agreed fully with DoT. The information submitted by DoT to DPE was wrong, so DPE could not give the correct direction to DoT. GS read out the relevant portion in the letter from DoT to DPE in which it was stated that 1) E1 and E2 are the pay scales approved for BSNL direct recruits, 2) E1A and E2A are onetime dispensation for the absorbed officers etc. Finally Secretary assured to examine how wrong information has been sent by DoT to DPE and corrective actions will be taken.

After the meeting with the Secretary, Telecom, the meeting of the AUAB was held. The meeting expressed it’s satisfaction about the discussions on the issues of Allotment of 4G spectrum, Payment of Pension Contribution and Pension Revision. Even though the approach of the Secretary, Telecom was positive, the AUAB meeting viewed that the progress in the matter of 3rd Pay Revision is not satisfactory. Hence, the meeting decided to go ahead with the agitational programme of holding Rally on 14.11.2018 and called upon the employees to effectively organise the rallies on 14-11-2018. It is decided that the AUAB will again meet on 14-11-2018, to review the situation.