Our struggle on various HR issues and 3rd PRC:
SNEA (major constituent of NCOA) and National Confederation of Officers Association of Central PSUs(NCOA) is organizing various Trade Union Programmes demanding constitution of 3rd PRC. The following programmes are chalked out. On 01.06.16, demonstration infront of DPE office, 22.06.2016 Dharna and 27.07.16, March to DPE office at New Delhi. We decided to struggle till the constitution of 3rd PRC.
On one side, we are on agitation to constitute 3rd PRC but on the other side, the pay scales of the entry cadres of JTO/JAO and SDE/AO are not finalized in BSNL. The biggest challenge before us is to get the standard pay scales of E2 and E3 for the entry level cadres replacing the intermediary pay scales of E1A and E2A implemented before constitution of 3rd PRC. Otherwise the pay revision for the entire BSNL Executives will be jeopardised, simply due to this one reason alone. Unfortunately no Assn, other than SNEA recognised this fact and acting on it.
Keeping the future of JTO/JAOs recruited after 2007 and the 3rd PRC in mind, SNEA for the last few years, struggling to get the standard pay scales of E2, E3 implemented in BSNL replacing E1A and E2A. The initial proposal of E1A and E2A got rejected by DoT and DPE due to the efforts of SNEA in July, 2014. The agitation programme in April/May, 2015 by SNEA, resulted in the reconstitution of the Joint Committee with a new Chairman, Sri M A Khan. SNEA was behind all these developments and finally Jt Committee come out with sweeping recommendations which will change the pay scales and promotional avenues of the executives in BSNL.
It is the sole responsibility of SNEA to get the Khan committee recommendations implemented in true spirit without dilution. Lot of negative forces are working to undermine the Khan Committee recommendations for their selfish agenda and motives, which are against the larger interest of the cadre. While SNEA is struggling for replacement of E1A, E2A, E3, -- E6 with E2, E3, --- E7, strategically we decided to delink E2, E3 from E4, --- E7 upgradation as E4, --- E7 upgradation is equivalent to another wage revision and BSNL Board and DoT may take longer time to decided on that. This strategy is adopted to get E2, E3 pay scales implemented before 3rd PRC and giving the benefits to the new recruits after 2007. But our friends having different agenda, if E2, E3 to E7 is not coming, no E2 and E3 at all. No concern about the future of the cadre, future of the young recruits after 01.01.2007 or the fate of 3rd PRC for all. All got 30% fitment with 78.2% IDA merger, all are very happy, except those joined from 2007. When SNEA demanding E2, E3 scales with five existing promotions, each promotion after every 5 years, our friends are struggling to see that the promotions are reduced from five to four by abolishing SDE or Sr SDE grades. They want to create confusion in the mgt, make anomalies and recoveries and anarchy in the company. The ultimate aim was to dump Khan Committee recommendations (inspite of being part of that) which does not suite their leadership. If SDE or Sr SDE grade is abolished, the Khan committee recommendations becomes redundant and CPSU cadre Hierarchy and 1st TBP after 4-5 years will not be implemented by the management.
Sensing the danger of dumping the Khan Committee recommendations by the management, SNEA compelled to start the agitation. Our struggle for one day and its huge success opened the eyes of the management. Mgt understood that SNEA is not an Assn, doing the agitations through websites, its strength is its grass root level membership. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Mgt started serious discussions with the Assn on various issues on 11.05.16 followed by 17.05.16. After thorough discussions with CMD, DIR(HR) and whole HR team, some concrete decisions are taken to settle all the important HR issues in a time bound manner. Our one day Dharna protected the Khan Committee recommendations. Otherwise, the selfish motives and petty interests would have buried the recommendations by this time and mgt also would have been very happy with that as they can go with E1+5 increments, E2, E3, -- E6 scales, no CPSU Hierarchy, no 1st TBP etc etc. Populism and playing to the gallery has never worked in trade union struggles. Holding on to hard ground realities has always yielded tangible and everlasting results. It is election time, we have to be very careful about such populistic demands from various sections and should not fall into their trap. It has seen in regularisation of Offtg JTOs(from 2000), implementation of 78.2% IDA fitment(with arrears), 30% superannuation benefit (nothing less than 12%), E2/E3 from 01.10.2000(demand in 2013) etc etc.
During entire discussions, Mgt was very keen to ensure that SNEA is not going on agitation from 18.05.2016.
1. In view of the 3rd PRC and to give immediate relief to the JTO/JAOs recruited after 01.01.2007, it is mutually agreed to move two proposals on pay scales, one as per the Khan Committee recommendations on standard pay scales of E2, E3 replacing the non standard scales of E1A and E2A with necessary changes in EPP to protect the five TBP, after every five years (not 10 years as claimed by some) as recommended by the Committee. The second proposal will cover the cascading factor, upgradation upto E7.
2.CPSU Hierarchy process is fast tracked. Serious discussions on its implementation will be started shortly. Our members at grass root level should be very vigilant in the coming days as there will be populist demands during its implementation which can attract and misguide the masses like present SDEs in DGM scales should be made DGM directly. Our single agenda is to get Khan Committee recommendations implemented without any dilution. If that is ensured, a fresh JTO after 5 years of service will become SDE(now 15 to 20 years), an SDE after 5 years of service will become Sr SDE (total 10 years) and Sr SDE after 5 years will become AGM (total 15 years, now 30 to 35 years). While implementation, mgt assured that our demand 1) as a onetime measure, promotion to SDE, Sr SDE and DE grades without DPC for the Executives in higher scales, 2) address all seniority related issues like LDCE seniority, promotion quota seniority, Direct/Dept rect, Qualifying/non-qualifying etc, 3) change of designations to Asst Manager, Dy Manager, Manager, Asst General Manager, 4) decentralization of DPCs to Circles, 5) uniform date of promotion to end anomalies etc will be considered positively.
3.1st TBP after 4 to 5 years instead of 4 to 6 w.e.f 01.10.2000 is the demand of SNEA alone and it become a new item in the reconstituted Jt Committee. It was a major anomaly for the 1993, 1994, 1995 -- etc batches who got first TBP in 6 years whereas their seniors as well as juniors got it in 4 to 5 years. The recommendation will be processed immediately after CPSU, mgt assured. The EPP will be amended for that purpose.
4.Officiating pay fixation, protection of pay -- withdrawal of wrong clarifications by BSNL: Thousands of JTOs, JAOs, SDEs, AOs officiated in higher post during DoT and BSNL period prior to the clarification are facing reduction in pay by one or two increments and recovery of lakhs of rupees. The EPP clarification dated 19.02.2010 denied pay protection on offtg promotion which is against the provisions of FRSR, MoF orders, DoT orders etc. From DoT period onwards pay protection allowed till the clarification. Surprisingly, the EPP clarification dated 30.05.2007 does not allow pay fixation with one increment from same scale to same scale on officiating promotion where as EPP provides the same on any post based promotion. Assn was struggling against these two clarifications since 2010. Unfortunately the committee formed to examine the issues also not gone into depth which compelled us to make it an agenda. After lot of deliberations, now mgt understood the mistakes and assured that necessary steps will be taken to correct both the clarifications and given a target date of two months time. This will give relief to thousands of Executives, SDEs, AO, DEs and CAOs facing reduction in pay and recovery. This is one of the major achievement due to the agitation.
5.30% superannuation benefits. At our Jaipur AIC, CMD assured 6% contribution to begin with. Mgt later on made a proposal of 3% in a meeting held on 19.02.16 in which SNEA was not present. Since much opposition was not there from the participants (those who are insisting nothing less than 12%) in the meeting, mgt gone ahead with the proposal. SNEA strongly protested against this betrayal and demanded minimum 6%. The proposal of 3% is now approved by BSNL Board. On our strong protest mgt decided to review the contribution, CMD and DIR(HR) assured us.
6.Promotions in various cadres: All the promotions JTO to SDE, SDE to DE, JAO to AO, AO to CAO, SDE to EE are stayed by various courts. To expedite the JTO to SDE case at Ernakulam, as per our request, BSNL engaged senior lawyer from Hon Supreme Court. Case is expected hearing in June. The stay on declaration of LDCE result was vacated by the CAT, Chandigargh and after Assn intervention, the results declared. However stay continuing on promotion. This case along with the case on SDE to DE promotion is listed for 08.07.2016. Assn pursuing all the cases in different courts. However due to the multiplicity of the litigation, the only viable alternative is CPSU Hierarchy.
7.Notional pay of E1A and E2A for Civil/Elect/Arch/TF/PA/PS cadres w.e.f 01.10.2000:
Our Kanyakumari AIC decided to work for uniform promotion policy and uniform pay scales for all the Executives, irrespective of wings. On promotions, we could achieve it in TBP through EPP. On functional promotion, it will be achieved through CPSU. But on pay scales, this demand could not achieve for the above cadres eventhough we are struggling. But we could make a breakthrough on 17.05.2016 when SNEA got an assurance from CMD that this anomaly will be resolved. This is another achievement of our recent agitation.
8.Membership verification: Multiplicity of Assns and the vested interests playing havoc with the future of the Executives. None of the important HR issues are getting resolved. Our committed members and the Executives are the victims of this. Few with vested interests and selfish agenda are taking the entire cadre into ransom. Even Non Executives are working together for the employees and could achieve better than the highly educated Executives, even their designations changed. It is high time for them to open their eyes. Overall cadre interest is totally neglected/missing on various issues, rather petty interests and selfish motives taking leading positions. Recently we are witnessing that instead of making serious efforts to get the Khan Committee recommendations which will benefit the entire cadre by upgrading the pay scales from E1A to E2 and E2A to E3 for the entry /basic cadres, will give better pay for the JTO/JAOs recruited after 01.01.2007, will give functional promotions instead of financial upgradations to thousands and thousands of Executives after every five years who are waiting for promotions for years together, the anomaly in 1st TBP for thousands of Executives are getting resolved, the Assns made the recommendations in October, 2015 are not allowing the management to implement the same recommendations now. To end this deadlock situation, membership verification is the only solution. Management now convinced the same and initiated the process.
We should start strenuously working on coming out with flying colours and thumbs up from the ensuing membership verification. It will surely be a litmus test for our organizational capacity and our commitment and determination to face successfully challenges howsoever formidable they are. That is our history and we have to repeat history with impeccable precision. Our unity, commitment and organizational alertness and preparedness on these issues will drive us to the destination. Let us remain on our tenterhooks to succeed under all circumstances by isolating and defeating counterproductive forces that have raised their heads.
9. First TBP after 4 years for JTO(LA) and Sr SDE at par with AAO and Sr AO:
Recent clarification created wide spread resentment among the Executives because of the discrimination. During discussion management agreed to re-examine the matter and render justice to the JTO(LA) and Sr SDEs. In addition to that the clarification issued has created large scale pay reduction for those promoted as CAOs during the intervening period as they are losing one increment they got on CAO promotion in E4 scale. Assn demanded to address this problem also as the benefit given to the CAOs on promotion cannot be taken away by another clarification.
Dear readers, please share your views and opinions about these new attractive offers by BSNL via comments with us.
SNEA (major constituent of NCOA) and National Confederation of Officers Association of Central PSUs(NCOA) is organizing various Trade Union Programmes demanding constitution of 3rd PRC. The following programmes are chalked out. On 01.06.16, demonstration infront of DPE office, 22.06.2016 Dharna and 27.07.16, March to DPE office at New Delhi. We decided to struggle till the constitution of 3rd PRC.
On one side, we are on agitation to constitute 3rd PRC but on the other side, the pay scales of the entry cadres of JTO/JAO and SDE/AO are not finalized in BSNL. The biggest challenge before us is to get the standard pay scales of E2 and E3 for the entry level cadres replacing the intermediary pay scales of E1A and E2A implemented before constitution of 3rd PRC. Otherwise the pay revision for the entire BSNL Executives will be jeopardised, simply due to this one reason alone. Unfortunately no Assn, other than SNEA recognised this fact and acting on it.
Keeping the future of JTO/JAOs recruited after 2007 and the 3rd PRC in mind, SNEA for the last few years, struggling to get the standard pay scales of E2, E3 implemented in BSNL replacing E1A and E2A. The initial proposal of E1A and E2A got rejected by DoT and DPE due to the efforts of SNEA in July, 2014. The agitation programme in April/May, 2015 by SNEA, resulted in the reconstitution of the Joint Committee with a new Chairman, Sri M A Khan. SNEA was behind all these developments and finally Jt Committee come out with sweeping recommendations which will change the pay scales and promotional avenues of the executives in BSNL.
It is the sole responsibility of SNEA to get the Khan committee recommendations implemented in true spirit without dilution. Lot of negative forces are working to undermine the Khan Committee recommendations for their selfish agenda and motives, which are against the larger interest of the cadre. While SNEA is struggling for replacement of E1A, E2A, E3, -- E6 with E2, E3, --- E7, strategically we decided to delink E2, E3 from E4, --- E7 upgradation as E4, --- E7 upgradation is equivalent to another wage revision and BSNL Board and DoT may take longer time to decided on that. This strategy is adopted to get E2, E3 pay scales implemented before 3rd PRC and giving the benefits to the new recruits after 2007. But our friends having different agenda, if E2, E3 to E7 is not coming, no E2 and E3 at all. No concern about the future of the cadre, future of the young recruits after 01.01.2007 or the fate of 3rd PRC for all. All got 30% fitment with 78.2% IDA merger, all are very happy, except those joined from 2007. When SNEA demanding E2, E3 scales with five existing promotions, each promotion after every 5 years, our friends are struggling to see that the promotions are reduced from five to four by abolishing SDE or Sr SDE grades. They want to create confusion in the mgt, make anomalies and recoveries and anarchy in the company. The ultimate aim was to dump Khan Committee recommendations (inspite of being part of that) which does not suite their leadership. If SDE or Sr SDE grade is abolished, the Khan committee recommendations becomes redundant and CPSU cadre Hierarchy and 1st TBP after 4-5 years will not be implemented by the management.
Sensing the danger of dumping the Khan Committee recommendations by the management, SNEA compelled to start the agitation. Our struggle for one day and its huge success opened the eyes of the management. Mgt understood that SNEA is not an Assn, doing the agitations through websites, its strength is its grass root level membership. Sensing the urgency of the situation, Mgt started serious discussions with the Assn on various issues on 11.05.16 followed by 17.05.16. After thorough discussions with CMD, DIR(HR) and whole HR team, some concrete decisions are taken to settle all the important HR issues in a time bound manner. Our one day Dharna protected the Khan Committee recommendations. Otherwise, the selfish motives and petty interests would have buried the recommendations by this time and mgt also would have been very happy with that as they can go with E1+5 increments, E2, E3, -- E6 scales, no CPSU Hierarchy, no 1st TBP etc etc. Populism and playing to the gallery has never worked in trade union struggles. Holding on to hard ground realities has always yielded tangible and everlasting results. It is election time, we have to be very careful about such populistic demands from various sections and should not fall into their trap. It has seen in regularisation of Offtg JTOs(from 2000), implementation of 78.2% IDA fitment(with arrears), 30% superannuation benefit (nothing less than 12%), E2/E3 from 01.10.2000(demand in 2013) etc etc.
During entire discussions, Mgt was very keen to ensure that SNEA is not going on agitation from 18.05.2016.
1. In view of the 3rd PRC and to give immediate relief to the JTO/JAOs recruited after 01.01.2007, it is mutually agreed to move two proposals on pay scales, one as per the Khan Committee recommendations on standard pay scales of E2, E3 replacing the non standard scales of E1A and E2A with necessary changes in EPP to protect the five TBP, after every five years (not 10 years as claimed by some) as recommended by the Committee. The second proposal will cover the cascading factor, upgradation upto E7.
2.CPSU Hierarchy process is fast tracked. Serious discussions on its implementation will be started shortly. Our members at grass root level should be very vigilant in the coming days as there will be populist demands during its implementation which can attract and misguide the masses like present SDEs in DGM scales should be made DGM directly. Our single agenda is to get Khan Committee recommendations implemented without any dilution. If that is ensured, a fresh JTO after 5 years of service will become SDE(now 15 to 20 years), an SDE after 5 years of service will become Sr SDE (total 10 years) and Sr SDE after 5 years will become AGM (total 15 years, now 30 to 35 years). While implementation, mgt assured that our demand 1) as a onetime measure, promotion to SDE, Sr SDE and DE grades without DPC for the Executives in higher scales, 2) address all seniority related issues like LDCE seniority, promotion quota seniority, Direct/Dept rect, Qualifying/non-qualifying etc, 3) change of designations to Asst Manager, Dy Manager, Manager, Asst General Manager, 4) decentralization of DPCs to Circles, 5) uniform date of promotion to end anomalies etc will be considered positively.
3.1st TBP after 4 to 5 years instead of 4 to 6 w.e.f 01.10.2000 is the demand of SNEA alone and it become a new item in the reconstituted Jt Committee. It was a major anomaly for the 1993, 1994, 1995 -- etc batches who got first TBP in 6 years whereas their seniors as well as juniors got it in 4 to 5 years. The recommendation will be processed immediately after CPSU, mgt assured. The EPP will be amended for that purpose.
4.Officiating pay fixation, protection of pay -- withdrawal of wrong clarifications by BSNL: Thousands of JTOs, JAOs, SDEs, AOs officiated in higher post during DoT and BSNL period prior to the clarification are facing reduction in pay by one or two increments and recovery of lakhs of rupees. The EPP clarification dated 19.02.2010 denied pay protection on offtg promotion which is against the provisions of FRSR, MoF orders, DoT orders etc. From DoT period onwards pay protection allowed till the clarification. Surprisingly, the EPP clarification dated 30.05.2007 does not allow pay fixation with one increment from same scale to same scale on officiating promotion where as EPP provides the same on any post based promotion. Assn was struggling against these two clarifications since 2010. Unfortunately the committee formed to examine the issues also not gone into depth which compelled us to make it an agenda. After lot of deliberations, now mgt understood the mistakes and assured that necessary steps will be taken to correct both the clarifications and given a target date of two months time. This will give relief to thousands of Executives, SDEs, AO, DEs and CAOs facing reduction in pay and recovery. This is one of the major achievement due to the agitation.
5.30% superannuation benefits. At our Jaipur AIC, CMD assured 6% contribution to begin with. Mgt later on made a proposal of 3% in a meeting held on 19.02.16 in which SNEA was not present. Since much opposition was not there from the participants (those who are insisting nothing less than 12%) in the meeting, mgt gone ahead with the proposal. SNEA strongly protested against this betrayal and demanded minimum 6%. The proposal of 3% is now approved by BSNL Board. On our strong protest mgt decided to review the contribution, CMD and DIR(HR) assured us.
6.Promotions in various cadres: All the promotions JTO to SDE, SDE to DE, JAO to AO, AO to CAO, SDE to EE are stayed by various courts. To expedite the JTO to SDE case at Ernakulam, as per our request, BSNL engaged senior lawyer from Hon Supreme Court. Case is expected hearing in June. The stay on declaration of LDCE result was vacated by the CAT, Chandigargh and after Assn intervention, the results declared. However stay continuing on promotion. This case along with the case on SDE to DE promotion is listed for 08.07.2016. Assn pursuing all the cases in different courts. However due to the multiplicity of the litigation, the only viable alternative is CPSU Hierarchy.
7.Notional pay of E1A and E2A for Civil/Elect/Arch/TF/PA/PS cadres w.e.f 01.10.2000:
Our Kanyakumari AIC decided to work for uniform promotion policy and uniform pay scales for all the Executives, irrespective of wings. On promotions, we could achieve it in TBP through EPP. On functional promotion, it will be achieved through CPSU. But on pay scales, this demand could not achieve for the above cadres eventhough we are struggling. But we could make a breakthrough on 17.05.2016 when SNEA got an assurance from CMD that this anomaly will be resolved. This is another achievement of our recent agitation.
8.Membership verification: Multiplicity of Assns and the vested interests playing havoc with the future of the Executives. None of the important HR issues are getting resolved. Our committed members and the Executives are the victims of this. Few with vested interests and selfish agenda are taking the entire cadre into ransom. Even Non Executives are working together for the employees and could achieve better than the highly educated Executives, even their designations changed. It is high time for them to open their eyes. Overall cadre interest is totally neglected/missing on various issues, rather petty interests and selfish motives taking leading positions. Recently we are witnessing that instead of making serious efforts to get the Khan Committee recommendations which will benefit the entire cadre by upgrading the pay scales from E1A to E2 and E2A to E3 for the entry /basic cadres, will give better pay for the JTO/JAOs recruited after 01.01.2007, will give functional promotions instead of financial upgradations to thousands and thousands of Executives after every five years who are waiting for promotions for years together, the anomaly in 1st TBP for thousands of Executives are getting resolved, the Assns made the recommendations in October, 2015 are not allowing the management to implement the same recommendations now. To end this deadlock situation, membership verification is the only solution. Management now convinced the same and initiated the process.
We should start strenuously working on coming out with flying colours and thumbs up from the ensuing membership verification. It will surely be a litmus test for our organizational capacity and our commitment and determination to face successfully challenges howsoever formidable they are. That is our history and we have to repeat history with impeccable precision. Our unity, commitment and organizational alertness and preparedness on these issues will drive us to the destination. Let us remain on our tenterhooks to succeed under all circumstances by isolating and defeating counterproductive forces that have raised their heads.
9. First TBP after 4 years for JTO(LA) and Sr SDE at par with AAO and Sr AO:
Recent clarification created wide spread resentment among the Executives because of the discrimination. During discussion management agreed to re-examine the matter and render justice to the JTO(LA) and Sr SDEs. In addition to that the clarification issued has created large scale pay reduction for those promoted as CAOs during the intervening period as they are losing one increment they got on CAO promotion in E4 scale. Assn demanded to address this problem also as the benefit given to the CAOs on promotion cannot be taken away by another clarification.
Dear readers, please share your views and opinions about these new attractive offers by BSNL via comments with us.
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