A nice fruitful discussion took place with management on the agenda items placed by AIGETOA on dated 10th December 2024. From Management side Honble CMD BSNL, Honble Director HR, PGMs from HR group, officers from HR and SEA section were present while the association side was represented by the General Secretary, All India President, Finance Secretary, AGSs, Joint Secretaries Central and South, All India Convener, CHQ Advisors, Organising Secretary NCC members, CS Punjab, CS and CP BSNL CO, CS and CP CNTX North, ACS Kerala and CHQ Advisor from Kolkata Telecom District.
A presentation was made on the issues related to seniority and how the Competitive Quota Executives have been deprived of their rights. It was elaborated by AIGETOA why the cut-off date of 31st December is significant and how the pending promotions can be executed by 31st December 2024 The same was appreciated by management side and they assured for all possible steps to be taken to realise the same. Pers and Restructuring section was asked to work on war footing basis to ensure the same. Association side also assured for its firm cooperation in getting the process expedited. The legal logjam in AO to CAO promotions were explained and suggestions were made from AIGETOA on tackling the issue for a win win situation for all. Possible way out for executing JAO to AO promotions in the same way as done in the case of JTO to SDE in December 2021 was also discussed. All efforts to be taken by Pers and Restructuring Section to ensure the promotions in SDE to AGM Cadre, AGM to DGM Ad-hoc, AO to CAO and JAO to AO Promotions.
Pending Promotions in PA, PS and PPS cadres also to be executed immediately.
AIGETOA Side to coordinate with Litigants in JTO to SDE DPC and LICE for a possible solution in the form of Promotions with Seniority subject to outcome of the court case.
Management further agreed to ensure the readiness in the case of SDE to AGM LICE so that promotions can be issued immediately after getting the go ahead from Honble Court of Law.
The review DPC under PWD Quota to be expedited and completed expeditiously to get further promotions in all cadres.
Issue of scrapping of SET RRs and other issues pertaining to current MT Recruitment process was also highlighted which was agreed to be examined by management.
The recommendation for restructuring and increase in posts to be submitted immediately.
Another presentation was made by the Pay Loss Suffering group by the team of Shri Prabhas Mishra, Shri Anoop Das and Shri Nithya Jarald wherein they highlighted the crux and root cause of the JE Period pay loss. The same was positively reciprocated by the management side and they assured of getting the same examined by the wage negotiation committee.
Management agreed to take up the matter of E2-E3 agressively with DOT and assured that the desired information shall be submitted to DoT.
The committee on 22820 shall be re-notified as few officers of the committee has been transferred and they shall be asked to submit their report and discuss with association with a fresh perspective.
The issue of E1 plus 5 increments pending before board to be expedited and extending the same to all new batches shall be examined.
Pay Fixation Option on promotion for the TTAs recruited as JTOs through outsider quota was also discussed and it was agreed to consider the issue in light of the orders pronounced by various tribunals.
On 3rd PRC, management was non committal and stated that issue pertains to Government decision. They advised to wait for some more time.
On Superannuation Fund case will be processed for another 2 percent increase Option to switch to NPS and the endorsement of the DPE guidelines for giving the fund accumulation on resignation or separation from organisation to be done. Further the fund accumulation shall be reflected on the Pay Slip.
Death Relief Fund to be incorporated.
Further it was agreed to process the case for implementing the DOPT guidelines for extending the technical resignation option to BSNL Recruits also which will enable the BSNL recruits to get the 300 days leave encashment and technical resignation benefits in case of resignation/separation from BSNL etc.
Management was not very commital on Sabbatical leave.
The issue of granting one time option for pension under CCS rules to those whose recruitment process was initiated before incorporation of BSNL was also discussed. Management agreed to send the reference to DoT once again.
Transfer Policy modifications to be considered. Management agreed for considering the need based transfers instead of routine long stay transfers.
We further requested for reinstating those disturbed in long stay transfers back to their parent circles by considering their OTP cases. Management agreed to consider the same. Management also agreed to consider immediate relieving of executives through ERP on completion of long stay and OTP cases. It was also agreed to consider the medical cases, spouse cases, single parent cases and female executives, those above 58 etc on priority
Suggestion of association with respect to changes in transfer policy and OTP procedure to be considered. AIGETOA to give formal inputs for the same.
Rule 8 policy to be streamlined, the letter with respect to the surplus/deficit circles to be re-examined and withdrawn. The discriminatory clause pertaining to 5 years restrictive clause for JTOs promoted through special LICE to be examined and withdrawn Mutual Rule 8 transfers to be considered.
147 Group Reinstatement issue to be considered in a positive manner.
The orders for removing the freeze on deputation to be removed immediately.
Extending FTTH connection for RSTC to be considered. Association suggestion to extend plan 799 for executives to be examined.
Restoration of Outdoor Medical Reimbursement to current DA rates to be considered. AIGETOA request to increase the limit to 25 days basic/da to be examined in due course.
BSNL Corporate Office to intervene for empanelment of reputed hospitals on cashless basis. It was agreed that if sufficient indoor medical coverage through tie ups with reputed hospitals on cashless basis is not extended then option for GHI by employer can be considered provided all associations agree for doing away with BSNLMRS and replacing the same with GHI.
Provision of at least one compensatory leave per month in lieu of second Saturday to field staff to be examined and considered.
Revison in TA/DA to be considered and orders shall be issued shortly.
AIGETOA also requested for increasing the monthly transport allowance at least to the 6th CPC rates which was agreed to be examined and considered.
Association side also requested for notifying the laptop for field units immediately. It was informed that the same is under process. Further AIGETOA requested for increasing the limit to at least Rs 60000/- Minimum and also mobile reimbursement to Rs 18000 Minimum.
SR cell related issues were discussed. It was agreed to open the change window twice. Issue of non granting of meeting by few circle heads and Few BAs were highlighted and it was assured that SR cell will intervene in the matter and set the things in right perspective It was agreed to provide ESS access to association for fetching the details of membership regularly. Non implementation of guidelines pertaining to association OBs holding the admin position was also discussed and SR cell agreed to intervene. Issue of Dharmapuri BA was also highlighted on which management asked for further details which will be submitted.
A committee shall be constituted to examine the One PSU One Association Concept with inputs on the practices being followed in other PSUs and recommend on the same.
The issue of formation of staff grievance cell at BA level shall be examined.
IQs allotment to be made online. The concept of keeping the IQs reserved in the name of GMs/CGMs to be done away with. BSNL CO shall be seeking the details of the expenditure made and utilisation of IQs from circles.
Instructions to be issued for regular upkeep of Staff Quarters and involving concerned RWAs for the same was also agreed. The monitisation of residential quarters to be avoided as far as practicable.
Association suggestion for involving group housing cooperative society of BSNL staff in monitising the land assets and giving employees the option to take over such properties through cooperative group housing societies of BSNL employees to be examined.
Further AIGETOA suggestion with respect to renting out the high value premises to be considered. Option to use the vacant quarters of MTNL at Delhi/Mumbai for clearing the BSNL waiting list to be examined.
A separate discussion with CGM BW to be held with AIGETOA on the land monetization issue and exemption of residential colonies is to be held Separately.
The issue of ALTTC centre to be examined. Management agreed to take up the matter with DOT for co-existence of BSNL as well as DOT training centers in the ALTTC premises.
Development Issues: The issues faced by field units with respect to the 4G rollout, FTTH connections, MAAN issues, Transmission, SLA based outsourcing, Flaws in Tendering process etc was also highlighted before Honble CMD BSNL. CMD BSNL directed us to submit a detailed note on the issues faced. Discussion on all such issues to proceed further at the level of CMD BSNL.
The issues were discussed in a comprehensive manner and consensus was reached on the resolution of many issues including that of promotions before 31st December 2024. One thing we can assure that management is considerate on issues highlighted before them and we expect a definite positive outcome. We shall be sharing further details in due course.
We extend our thanks and gratitude to Our Honble CMD and Director HR for driving the HR issues on priority and agreeing to consider resolution of many of our long pending issues. We also extend our thanks to HR team , PGM Pers, PGM SR and Restg, PGM Estt, PGM Recruitment and Trg, PGM Admin for their support and extending the postive vibes. There is a visible change in the approach of management towards HR and this is only possible due to the empathy shown by the current team towards employees. It becomes our duty to reciprocate and fulfill our duties to realise the objective of increasing the revenue by way of increase in connections, increase in business and increase in up time of network. Let us all work together for the cause of BSNL.