[To JTOs]
My dear friends,
Five years of service is probably a good time to look back at our lot as Junior Telecom Officers. We are assembled here to do just that—take stock of the years we have put in as the 'junior-most' executives in BSNL. What had been offered us when we joined service? What has actually been given? Who has benefited whilst our career prospects and compensation packages have been compromised? We shall take a quick look at all of these, and we shall agree among ourselves on a course of action.
It is mostly a story of betrayal, false promises, and management policies subverted and derailed by the efforts of a few associations which unfortunately represent the majority. As is customary with the majority, they also have the unenviable claim of not possessing the technical qualification that is mandatory for GE JTOs. Though it is not a question of alleging a lack in efficiency, there are some things which a trained engineer can do without having to sit in special courses at RTTC or ALTTC. Engineers hold the key in all technical matters; in the evolving scenario, BSNL, like all other big companies, will be forced to take cuts in manpower while retaining or even enhancing productivity. This is possible only by ensuring that the technical jobs are handled by engineers. It was with this vision that BSNL began the drive to recruit Graduate Engineers. The new post at the entry level was to be called GE-JTO. And we all know what happened afterwards.
You might recollect that this was the designation referred to in our appointment letters; but when it turned out, we are simply JTOs, and even in some places, they sweetly call us 'JE'. I must be borne in mind that the highest technical qualification asked for in BSNL is B Tech (no higher qualification is asked of ITS Officers). From the day we were inducted into service, we have been insulted and abused by our senior officers because we are technically qualified. What should be an asset to any company has become, in our case, in BSNL, a source of untold misery and exploitation. It is time we recounted each of these and reacted; it is time we took what is rightfully ours. It is time.
We shall specifically highlight some our grievances.
- The below-par bogus IDA pay scale (or, BSNL's modified IDA pay scale to accommodate unqualified JTOs)
- EPF Recovery, falsification of facts regarding ceiling, and unwarranted recovery of EPF Arrears
- Promotion Policy
- LDCA Transfer Practices
- Management Trainee Exam
- Adoption of corporate practices
Graduate Engineers of BSNL Kerala Circle, unite!
Fight for your rights!
Be present at the formation of Circle Unit on 01-Feb-2009
At Hotel Gaanam, Eranakulam (Chittoor Road, Near South Railway Station)
Pay Scale
I would like to invite your attention to the following graphic.
The two modified (downgraded) entries (highlighted in red) represent what has been doled out to GE-JTOs with the express intention of accommodating our big brothers. Both management and big brothers won, oh yes. And when that happens, who has time to think about righteousness and justice? A few fellows have come and joined, they're graduates and smart, so let's have a party at their expense!
It had been clearly indicated in the advertisements of our recruitment that GE-JTOs would be posted in Central Government Pay scale of Rs 6500—200—10500 pm which would be revised to IDA Pay Scale. Associations (with our big brothers and their big brothers in the forefront) went on strike regarding the settlement of pay. Finally, what they accepted (anything would have been better than CDA pay in their eyes) was a bogus entry-level pay scale of 9850—250—14600 (in place of the IDA starting scale of 10750—300—16750). In the discussions, the big brothers used the fact that Graduate Engineers are being posted as JTOs, so that would require a pay raise. They conveniently used the argument to hide the fact that they were not graduate engineers themselves, or that they would be receiving pensions when they retired. With the help of entrenched unions (for whom the GE-JTO would be a threat both in terms of technical excellence as well as in their qualification) they succeeded in turning the situation around, and as it turned out, GE-JTOs took a pay cut, and the big brothers got a pay raise. The resulting lower entry level pay-scale could be successfully defended by BSNL Management, as most of the big brothers, were simply not qualified for the post. Not only did we get a ten percent pay cut, we were de-promoted to the post of 'Junior' Telecom Engineer.
EPF Recovery and Arrears
In marked contrast to big brothers, who have benefits like family pension and GPF cover, direct recruit JTOs have no option other than EPF. In this regard, there are several things to note.
a. The same contribution is applicable to all direct-recruit JTOs. In some cases where the JTYO has tried to increase his subscription, it was met with considerable delaying tactics and leg-pulling. (At least one such case is clearly known, that of a fellow-JTO posted in Kannur SSA.) Even though BSNL is not supposed to increase their contribution, the accounts officers are reluctant to change the employee contribution. (This is a part of the attempt to impose a ceiling on BSNL's contribution to the EPF account. There had been no limit imposed on EPF contribution as we were posted; any such rule, if at all in effect currently, is a result of subsequent insinuation by our big brothers.)
b. There are rules forbidding any levying of 'arrears' in EPF contribution. Any JTO who has a grievance in this regard can take up the issue with the EPF Commissioner and obtain a favourable outcome by properly pursuing the case. There have been numerous success stories in MP and TN Circles. (All the cases have been successful, though the JTOs may have incurred some expense in following the case.) Legally, Accounts Officer cannot levy such arrears; in case of a query, he is liable to refund any such amount levied. (Something like Rs 30,000 has been levied from 2002 recruits.)
{For following up the case, please make use of the guidelines posted at out site, www.aigetoachq.org}
LDCA Transfer
Transfer rules are framed to avoid the possibility of nepotism and corruption. Generally, an officer is not expected to spend more than six years at the same station. That is, those who have enjoyed the longest stay will be transferred and those with shorter stays will be retained. (If there are two persons, say with 4 years and 6 years at the same station, then the officer with the six-year stay will be transferred.)
However, the ‘availability’ of GE-JTOs have made things easier. (In this connection we would like to point out that all the JTOs from the 2006 batch at RTTC Thiruvananthapuram were posted at Malappuram SSA). Naturally, a pool of officers will be readily available for transfer anywhere in the Circle upon their completing 2 years. This automatically rescues a handful of officers (big brothers) who have been enjoying comfortable posting at their home SSA. Thus, we have the bizarre situation where those with shortest stay are transferred and those who have had long stays stay on forever (like rust in the wheel).
It is also to be pointed out that there was a Corporate Office Circular which directed all Divisional Engineers to post GE-JTOs in switches and other technically demanding locations. However, many SSAs have silently ignored the circular. A good proportion of the new JTOs working in Malappuram are working in rural exchanges as JTO (Groups) and their talents are being wasted.
Management Trainees
At least some of you might recall that as we entered BSNL service, there was a chance that we could pass qualifying examinations and reach the top posts. However, this has not happened. Whereas in every other PSU Management Trainees and Engineer Trainees are placed equally and have exactly the same prospects, we in BSNL are forced to remain junior-most. And this, despite the fact that we are the technically qualified officers in BSNL.
We should resist the move by BSNL management to recruit MTs from outside through an open examination. This move might prove detrimental to the company as Management Graduates are unlikely to succeed in heading a PSU Telecom company like ours. a telecommunication company requires management by engineers and not by business graduates. This is especially true for BSNL as we are expected to provide acceptable quality of service even in heavily-loss making scenarios. Rather than having HR/Finance/Marketing managers sit on top of us doing nothing and understanding nothing, we shall do well to be our own managers.
In the circumstance, it is our duty to fight for our rightful place in the company and realise our dreams for a better position.
Onward
We have been punished for no fault of our own. We have been forced to share something which is ours by right. We did not ask to be called JTO or posted as a JTO; we share the same technical qualification as ITS Officers. This insult, the very designation of JTO, hides the all-important fact that we are technically qualified engineers. We are not engineers on probation; we are not assistants or apprentices. If there are any engineers at all in BSNL, we are those engineers. It is not just the money; it is the ignominy of having to bear the tag of a junior engineer, and sheer absurdity of working under higher officers who don't have the knowledge to either guide or instruct us. Every day we come across situations when we have to attend calls from higher officers who keep reminding us that there is a wide chasm between them and us. What is alarming, what is disgraceful and unjust, is that their side is a higher than ours. We have been handed out this second-class treatment and it makes no sense to take it lying down.
Our different circle units have scored important victories by raising and consistently following up personal grievances like EPF arrear recovery, Rule-38 transfers, and other injustices and insults. Our GS Mr Shahu is an exemplar in leading from the front. His determination and tenacity in holding up the proceedings of MT Test has been notable. In a similar vein, we should fight against this discrimination because we represent the future. Every other year, several thousand graduates are recruited as JTOs and our numbers will swell. The other ‘legacy’ association will continue to dwindle. Though it is in the nature of every living thing to fight for its survival, they are doing it at our expense. They are profiting from our qualification by making us share an epithet which was theirs and fits only them. Once more I'd like to remind you that we are Graduate Engineers and that we demand to be treated as engineers like in the other PSUs. It is not our fault that a lot many TTAs got smart and won by force of numbers. We were initially offered a separate post which we should demand again.
I take this opportunity to thank you all for your cooperation. All I ask is that you should take what is rightfully yours. Don’t remain silent in the face of exploitation; make that noise and take your place.
‘Stand upright, and don’t get shredded.’
Sincerely yours,
Office-bearers
(AIGETOA, Kerala Circle Unit)
[To JAOs]
My dear friends,
I take this opportunity to welcome you aboard our ship; I thank you on behalf of all the members of Kerala Unit of AIGETOA and personally. You have taken the right step, the only meaningful step, to fight against injustice and take what is rightfully yours.
I would invite your attention to a time when this organization was just being founded. It took a couple of years to materialize, and a couple more to finalize our action plan; but now, with the induction of the third batch of professionally qualified JTOs through a national examination, our numbers are increasing and it will continue to increase.
JAOs are the equivalents in the accounts section. You are equivalent in the hierarchy, and you are professionally qualified (perhaps overqualified—it is what we’ve always felt). Perhaps more importantly, you are also bossed by officers who might not be professionally qualified. Whatever the case, it must be clear to you that the older associations serve a different purpose, mainly that of preserving their self-interest. It is their belief that by banding together, they can overwhelm us by sheer numbers. But we have shown them time and again that we can make our presence felt; and we have almost always won our cases through legal means and agitation.
I would like to point out that in management’s view, all the executive associations stand in the same rung of the ladder; the numerically superior big brother association and AIGETOA are both similar in this regard; both are not recognized legally, both are merely associations. They are no better than us. Still they have much political clout. Why is this so? They have been systematically spreading lies and falsifying facts. Through an elaborate network well-versed in insinuation and boasting, they carry out their nefarious agenda, which is to exploit us.
You work conditions and peculiar situation might have stressed the importance of being professionally qualified. The infamous inertia of our organization is primarily due to an indifferent attitude; it is evident that this inertia is almost totally due to the big brothers who refuse to change their style of working. Yet they demand more benefits citing our qualifications. It is simply a case of our position being made use of because technically, regardless of their academic and professional background, all JTOs are JTOs and all JAOs are JAOs.
We share this poison cup between us. It is only proper that we join forces in this fight for our existence and a bright future in BSNL. We were christened in BSNL. We did not ‘opt’ for it simply because we were employed by BSNL. We did not stumble upon it; we qualified in an exam conducted by BSNL and earned our appointment. The future belongs to us. The road to that future is hard but we are there with you. We shall win.
Once more, I congratulate you on your choice, and welcome you among us. From the time when JAOs were put on pay-parity with JTOs we have looked upon you as our allies, our comrades-in-arms. We have things to fight for, and a bright future ahead of us.
Office-bearers
(AIGETOA, Kerala Circle Unit)
