As reported yesterday, the meeting between CMD BSNL and the Unions/Associations was held today at 1100 hours. CMD, Director (EB), Director (Finance), PGM (SR) and other top officers were present. The Forum leaders demanded that the long pending issues of the employees like 78.2% IDA Merger, restoration of the curtailed benefits, increase in the various allowances etc. be settled urgently. The plea of lack of funds is only to deny the rights of the workers, while the management has issued orders for increased allowances for the non-absorbee ITS officers. They told that there can not be such discrimination against the employees. The CMD did not counter the points of the unions but requested to withdraw the agitations including the strike and the demands will be considered when the financial position improves. The staff side forthrightly rejected the above.

The Unions met immediately after the meeting and called upon the workers at various level to speed up the preparations for the strike. They also called upon the workers to make the 6th Dharna programme a massive show of strength. All general Secretaries were asked to contact their Circle Secretaries to ensure organising the programmes jointly and make them a grand success.