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BSNL counter closure at CIAL , Ernakulam

Details

Published on Tuesday, 21 November 2017 17:41

Our Circle team represented the matter with CGMT, Kerala regarding taking necessary measures to function the BSNL counter at Cochin International Airport.

Click here for the letter submitted

Final Hearing & Judgement by Hon'ble Madras High Court

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Published on Sunday, 19 November 2017 11:56

The case for footnote 2 came for hearing in Hon'ble Madras High Court and the final hearing was held on 2nd November 2017. The judgement copy has been received today on 16 November 2017.

Hon'ble High Court has recognised the grievance of AIGETOA that the interests of the engineering graduates who have been recruited directly by BSNL has been overlooked. Hon'ble Court observed that in normal course, it is expected that when ever there is a promotional post for which persons from different cadre would be considered, it would be done by fixing them in a common pool and also a ratio for considering incumbents from each cadre. Hon'ble Court observed that petioners AIGETOA are aggrieved against the equation of the non engineering graduates, who are the existing incumbents for the posts of DE/DGM/CAO on the basis of footnote introduced to the recruitment rules and thereby depriving the petioners, who are engineering graduates.

Hon'ble Court agreed that there is some ambiguity with regard to such equation by way of the footnote to the recruitment rules. Hon'ble High Court observed that in equating the existing incumbents with the Direct Recruits, who possess the engineering graduation, it appears that there is some deprivation for the engineering graduates who are direct recruitees, the reservation/priority is not based on any method of equation or ratio. Hon'ble bench observed that this aspect requires clarification at the end of BSNL. Hon'ble Court directed BSNL that such disputes shall be gone through by forming a committee by BSNL to sort out the ambiguity in equating the direct recruitees and the existing incumbents, which exercise shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of receipt of the copy of the orders.

Delay in processing of SAB Nomination from BSNL Recruits

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Published on Wednesday, 15 November 2017 19:13

The BSNL recruited employees are the deprived lot due to the delay by management for realisation of the justified 30% SAB in line with departmental guidelines- GOI , which make BRs at least some tandem with retiral and pension benefits of absorbed employees (for whom BSNL already pays monthly pension contribution post medical retirement reimbursement from BSNL date of formation). In the due 30% SAB for BRs, only a part percentage ie. EPF 12% and Grativity 4.5 % are only under actual realisation, where as the remaining 13.5% (PMRB, Pension Scheme etc) are yet to be materialised in full.

All the BSNL recruits need to submit the SAB nomination form duly signed at the earliest as per the BSNL corporate office BSNL Pension Scheme circular dated 28/9/17. In Kerala, even though Circle office endorsed the letter to staff on 11-10-2017, the collection of forms / intimation to all BSNL recruits are still pending in some SSAs. AIGETOA being the pain stake holder in materialising the SAB benefits to BSNL recruits, we have represented the inordinate delay caused in the same with CGMT, BSNL Kerala

All DS/DPs may do the needful, so that all our BSNL recruits irrespective of association/ cader are informed and submit the same. Measures may be made to inform the SSA administration about the importance and processing of the same instead of confuse it with EPF option.

Click here for the letter submitted

EPF informative session conducted at Kannur

Details

Published on Sunday, 12 November 2017 22:53

AIGETOA Kannur arranged an EPF AWARENESS PROGRAMME at Conference Hall, BSNL Telephone bhavan Kannur on 09/11/2017 Thursday 2 pm.

The class was handled by Mr.ANIL VENGATH, Sr.SSA, EPF KANNUR and Mr.MAHESH, DEO, EPF KANNUR.

Almost all the BRs who are the members of the EPF Scheme attended the class. The session was very useful. The lapse from management side wrt delay in collecting the full pension option etc were clearly discussed along with various benefits of EPF scheme and pension.

View photos here

AIGETOA Stand on proposed CPSU Cadre Hierarchy & the Comparative analysis with regard to loss & benefit associated with it

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Published on Monday, 06 November 2017 08:44

It is learnt that management committee of BSNL board has approved the draft for the Proposed CPSU hierarchy implementation in BSNL. With the inception of this policy, functional promotions in executive cadre will be time bound up to the level of AGM/DE/CAO.

The concept of the cluster based CPSU hierarchy was mooted by AIGETOA since beginning and now after a time gap of 17 years since formation of BSNL, management as well as other stake holders realized the importance and significance of a time bound functional promotion policy. AIGETOA wanted a contemporary CPSU hierarchy policy based on performance, qualification weightage and service weightage. The current policy is lagging in all these importance parameters and hence it fulfils only some part of our aspiration and there is a lot to achieve. However, this is one step in right direction similar to management step of making SAB contribution from 3 percent to 5 percent. We have to go a long way and that can be achieved through unity, faith and patience.     

The intent of the new policy is apparently to introduce a rugged and strong mechanism for promotions, but still we feel that still there is a lot to include. The aspirations of the Direct Recruits have not been taken care of fully. Incorporation of clauses like 12 years residency period from SDE/AO to AGM/DE and doing away with qualification requirement for promotion to DE/AGM posts, not giving enough weightage to performance is not in line with the considerate stand of AIGETOA.

Further, AIGETOA has time and again categorically stated that pending promotions should be executed first and then BSNL should move on to the CPSU hierarchy proposal. Now with approval of the proposal in Management Committee and the same is now to be discussed and approved by full Board of BSNL, We demand that this intervening period should be used for executing the pending promotions and to be more specific for declaring the posting orders of LDCE passed executives and DPC orders of JTO to SDE failing which we will be constrained to take the matters in court of law as we don't want any policy which remains marred with litigations and cases. Decision to take the proposal to board instead of management committee is also a right step as moving on to time bound functional promotion is big change from the current scenario and implementation of any such big policy without the concurrence of board is not going to stand in the court of law and the sanctity of such policy will always remain in question.

Through various stages of deliberations, we have ensured that the interest of Direct Recruits remains protected in the new proposal. Conditions like extending deemed SDE to LDCE 2015 passed candidates and their DPC counter parts, keeping the seniority of the LDCE 2015 passed candidates intact, providing similar weightage to them as would have been given to them if posted as SDE,getting one year service weightage for them, considering their transfer applications while posting them as SDEs, getting service weightage for JTOs, ensuring vacancy year quota for LDCE vis-a'-vis DPC candidates and vice versa for promotion to AGMs and maintaining the seniority list for promotion to next scale based on vacancy year of SDEs, removing minimum service clause of 10 years as SDE/AO – now the promotions to AGM post shall be extended to DRs in 7 to 10 years for SDE to DE ( except LDCE passed SDEs of 2007 who will get in 11 years), and 7.5 years for AO to AGM, removing the capping of number of posts at AGM level and making AGM posts independent of number of posts,  continuance of Time Bound Financial upgradation along with this CPSU Hierarchy etc.  Had these protection clauses not been there, the promotions to AGMs would have been delayed further and interests of DRs (both Telecom as well as Finance) would have been badly compromised. With the existing policy, our first DR would have been promoted as AGM (LDCE passed SDEs of 2008) somewhere in 2027. This is big gain but not big enough to fulfil our aspirations and long pending dues of BSNL recruited executives.

Our efforts, deliberations, inputs since inception of AIGETOA had at last succeeded and made others including management to realise that CPSU hierarchy is the only solution for overcoming the complexities involved with the current HR scenario of BSNL. We have discussed the things and scenarios with our Joint Forum counterparts in a healthy and conducive atmosphere and with a right perspective of securing the interest of DRs. It is further to highlight that still the policy is not fully according to the expectations of AIGETOA/BSNL Recruited executives but is definitely better than what we are getting now. Click here for a comparative analysis

From the analysis, no doubt, executives, who joined earlier, are at loss vis-a'-vis if the CPSU would have been implemented from day one but still it is far better than the current scenario and anything which can make present better cannot be blindly opposed. The time which has gone cannot be reverted but at least present and future can be made better.  For youngsters and late entrants, this policy is almost at par if the CPSU would have been implemented from the day one.

Saying above does not mean that we have agreed whatever has been offered by management as of now. We feel and demand that ongoing promotions should be extended first before implementation of CPSU hierarchy and during the intervening period, we will leave no stone unturned to achieve that.We feel that residency period of 12 years is too high as even in normal channel of the proposed policy, the residency period is 5+5 i.e. 10 years, so anything above that cannot be accepted at all as already one more level of Sr SDE has been incorporated in between. We feel that qualification clause has been compromised in the CPSU policy and we will make all efforts to get weightage for Professional degree and diplomas in the policy. Any CPSU policy without discussion on fast track methodology in place of MT will not be complete and it will be our effort to ensure that when the policy is discussed in board, new proposal for fast track policy should also be in the proposal. We cannot allow any going back from the stand that there should not be any MT cadre in BSNL above the level of JTO/JAO and hence we cannot postpone discussion on fast track methodology. BSNL management has to implement the CPSU policy taking into account the fast track promotion methodology and AIGETOA will ensure its implementation along with proposed CPSU policy. 

Some apprehensions are being raised with regard to the scenario with respect to the pending approval of replacement scales of E1A and E2A by E2 and E3. The functional designations will be extrapolated over the new scales once approval from DoT is received. The scales have nothing to do with the name of the posts. The new scales will be adopted in the proposed policy. The same has already been conveyed by management side. Executives need not be confused over this. E2 in place of E1A and E3 in place of E2A is our considerate stand and we cannot and will not allow any compromise on that.

Comparative analysis with regard to loss & benefit associated with it. Click here

EPF Full Pension Option Form from Kerala Circle

Details

Published on Monday, 23 October 2017 23:11

Due to Aigetoa's vigorous Persuation, Kerala Circle office issued letter for collection of EPF full pension option from EPF members ( BSNL recruited employees ).

Click here for the letter issued.

Click here for the option form.

We are thankful to administration to take the note of BSNL recruits concern.Mean time it is to remind all that, the efforts are just started now,as EPFO still not agreed with the matter and the same which is taken by Aigetoa CHQ for the benefit of entire BSNL recruits. All BRs are requested to go in depth the EPF pension scheme Vs other options also like NPS and may choose the options which suits individual.

We are hopeful that we will get a favourable direction from CPFC soon.

AIGETOA wishes Happy Deepavali to all Members...

Details

Published on Tuesday, 17 October 2017 22:52

Representation to remove the blackout days during Deepavali

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Published on Friday, 13 October 2017 20:12

Our association represented the matter for removal of two continous blackout days during Deepavali. During this cut throat completion era, continuous two days black out may really irritate customers.

In BSNL most of the customers are using STVs for making voice calls. Blackout will severely affect these customers. We may earn some more revenues during blackout days as customers are forced to top up for making calls.

But in long run not a good business concept mainly during other operators aggressive Marketing strategies

Click here for the letter submitted

Update on EPF Full Pension

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Published on Tuesday, 10 October 2017 22:40

Our CS & team had a meeting with circle finance wing  yesterday with regard to followup on EPF full pension. Earlier, based on our inputs and persuasion, Circle administration wrote letter to EPFO Trivandrum with respect to the justified ground of BRs for EPF full pension. But EPFO, Trivandrum negates to our claim  and gave a reply to BSNL recently wrt our request. We now took up the  matter with our beloved GS & CHQ team, where they will meet CPFC, Newdelhi soon. 

Based on the outcome of the meeting, the further course of plan to be taken. It is imperative to say that Aigetoa is the association who persuades the Pay-Pension- Promotion of BSNL recruits from begining. 

Navarathri wishes...

Details

Published on Thursday, 28 September 2017 22:08

BSNL CO ISSUES GUIDELINES WITH RESPECT TO CREATION OF SUPERANNUATION TRUST FOR BSNL RECRUITED EMPLOYEES

Details

Published on Thursday, 28 September 2017 20:04

Superannuation Letters.Click here for letter

Superannuation Rules.Click here for Rules

Nomination Forms.Click here for Form

Docs - death cases. Click here

Docs - Other cases.Click here

Pending TBP process due from 1/1/2017

Details

Published on Saturday, 16 September 2017 17:11

Our Circle team once again took matter of Pending TBP process for E2-E3 & E3-E4, with Circle administration. There was clear guidelines from Corporate office and direction from Circle office for early expedition,  but unfortunately many SSAs shows some lethargy  and surprisingly  this year main beneficiary are BSNL recruits .

We had taken the matter with Admin on May --- subsequently they issued letter on 23/6/17. After this also no improvement seen,  we again informed cgmt on 18/7/17.Consequently Circle office issued the letter on 31/8/17 for circle staff only. 

We are hopeful that at least by October -17 all pending cases will be dealt and cleared. Mean time all Aigetoa BA units are requested to contact & inform concerned section to complete the process accordingly

Click here for the letter submitted 

Overview on Superannuation Benefits

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Published on Friday, 15 September 2017 15:35

Retirement Policies/ Pension are there to support retired social life of employees. Retired Govt employees were given with Statutory Govt Penisions, whereas in PSU’s the same objective achieved by its own Pension policies. In BSNL, Erstwhile Govt- Turned CPSU the employees absorbed into BSNL in 2003-04 were very well protected by rule 37-A, extending Govt Pension, whereas the same rule was to ensure BSNL’s directly recruited employees with its own pension policies. In 2003-2010 eras BSNL was reaping huge profits; still Pension Policies weren’t extended for DR Employees keeping their future in dark violating the pension rule.

In 2nd PRC, which was due on 01-01-2007, the ceiling of Super Annuation Benefits- SAB – for BR’s was fixed not less than 30% of Basic+ DA giving certain parity with those holding Govt Statutory Pensions. In the initial stage the BR’s were extended BSNL’s EPF contribution of only 12% of Basic-6500%, which after our struggles were enhanced to 12% of Basic +DA. 

In effect BSNL employees were given with 12% contribution on Basic +DA, Gratuity-4%, Post-Retirement Medical Benefits-PRMB-2%: towards the costs of medical expenses that may be incurred by an employee if he’s to live after retirement; should BSNL exists and still holds the same medical policies. The same is claimed by retired employees who absorbed from DoT to BSNL. 

Later the gross the injustice to BR’s came into light, when AIGETOA, and members across India mulled over the contribution by different PSUs towards SAB Contribution, found that, BSNL’s contribution fall short of 30% of Basic + DA by 12%. Various campaigns across India were conducted by the association to create awareness about the same among the stake holders.

AIGETOA strongly questioned this injustice and requested for SAB contribution in totality, sister association too raised voice for the same. Later management tried to recalculate the entire contribution and adjudged there was PRMB-3.2% , gratuity-4.8% contribution apart from 12% for EPF, but still it’s an hypothetical figure as there are no separate fund maintained for PRMB or its not contributed separately.

Now after our repeated struggles, 3% of SAB contribution is agreed by management. It’s only effective from 05th May 2016, not from the joining date of BSNL recttd employees, which leads to a loss of 7 to 15years of contribution. It stands such a way that many executives seems lost their legitimate due for so many years. 

With various efforts by AIGETOA on forefront we are going to realize 3% due within 1-2 months and additional 2% within a span of 6months; by this even though on paper the contribution will come to 25% still in short of 5%.

AIGETOA is totally committed to fight till entire justified dues are given for BSNL recttd employees.

With Present set of data available, the scheme works the following ways.

•Fund Management is given with LIC.

•Contribution Flow: Contribution -> Trust (5 meber-Management+2 member Employees ) ->LIC Fund Manager->LIC

•Eligibility-15 years of Service is mandatory (Which is likely to be revised)

•2/3rd of Amount could be commuted; the rest is kept for Pension Portion.

•Employees may have optional contribution.

LHD in Protest to Tower subsidiary company

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Published on Thursday, 14 September 2017 22:40

All members are requested to hold Lunch Hour demonstrations at BSNL CO, Circle and SSA Headquarters on 15.09.2017, in protest against the Government's decision to form Tower Subsidiary company by hiving off tower assets from BSNL. 

Future course of action shall be intimated in due course of time after deliberation with all stake holders.