FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS & ASSOCIATIONS

Meeting of the Forum held on 27th February 2015

A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations was held on 27th February 2015 at BSNLMS Office, presided over by Com. C.Singh, Chairman, Forum. Coms. A.Rajmouli(NFTE), R.C.Pandey, A.Ganesh, Manoj Kumar Jha(BTEU BSNL), P.Abhimanyu, Swapan Chakroborty, John Verghese(BSNLEU), K.Sebastin (SNEA), Prahlad Rai, P.Venugopal (AIBSNLEA), K.Jayaprakash, Mohinder Singh (FNTO), N.D.Ram, B.Hanumantha Rao (SEWA BSNL), Sunil Gautam (SNATTA), Suresh Kumar, Tomar (BSNLMS), H.P.Singh (BSNLOA) and R.K.Ram (BTU BSNL) participated.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, welcomed all and introduced the items to be discussed – Review of the Parliament March and the proposed strike of the BSNL employees. All the union /association leaders participated in the discussion and the following decisions were taken.

1. The Parliament March on 25^th February 2015 was well participated by thousands of employees and was a great success. Comrades from all parts of the country attended with more from the nearby circles. BSNL pensioners and casual & contract workers also attended. The meeting congratulated the employees for the massive participation. The March was addressed by M.P.s and Central TU leaders who fully supported the demands of the Forum and extended solidarity and support. The Memorandum to the Prime Minister, signed by lakhs of people demanding revival of BSNL, was presented by the representatives of Forum. The Parliament March has made a great impact on the workers for going forward with the strike.
2. The meeting discussed in detail about the preparations for the Indefinite Strike from 17^th March 2015 on the demand of SAVE BSNL. It was felt that some more campaign among the workers and public is necessary before the strike. Conventions are yet to be held in many circles. The NDA government is going on aggressively with anti-PSU policies including disinvestment and privatisation of PSUs as also anti-worker policies. These have to be exposed before the people and workers for getting maximum support. Sustained struggles with the support of the people are required for the same. Further, the month of  March is the end of the Financial Year and going on strike at the time will result in many complications for BSNL and its targets, which the Forum wants to avoid.  Considering all the above, the meeting has decided as follows:
3. Two Days Strike will be organised on 21 -22 April 2015, instead of the proposed Indefinite Strike from 17^th March 2015. The Strike notice will be served on the CMD BSNL on 12^th March 2015 after holding a massive demonstration in front of BSNL Corporate Office. The Notice will be signed by the General Secretaries and they should be present when serving the notice to the CMD BSNL. Demonstrations should be conducted on the same day at SSA/Circle levels. Wide publicity should be given for the same. Press Conferences to be organised on the day at Circle levels, and if possible at SSA levels.

4. The Signature Campaign will continue till 31^st March 2015 and the additional signed Memorandums will be presented to the Prime Minister on that day. The Memorandums should be sent to Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Forum, D-7. Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001 so as to reach before 31-03-2015.General Secretaries are entrusted with the task of holding the state level convention where it has not been held so far. These include A.P., Maharashtra, A&N, ALTTC, Assam, BRBRAITT, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, H.P., Jharkhand, NTR, Odisha, Inspection Circle, TF Mumbai, TF-Kolkata, Uttarakhand, UP(West) and BSNL C.O. In addition, Joint District level Conventions and Branch General Bodies should he held to spread the message of the demands and the strike. General Secretaries and Circle Secretaries should take initiative for the same and ensure that these are conducted well before the strike.

5. Posters will be got printed for the strike by Forum and circulated wherever required through the General Secretaries. Wall posters can be printed in the local language by the Circle unions.

All out effort is required for making the 2 days strike a complete success. Each and every worker should be contacted and his participation in the strike ensured. Joint effort by all the unions/associations at All India, Circle and SSA level is very much necessary. The Save BSNL Campaign and the 2 Days Strike should be organised effectively and successfully.

SAVE BSNL – SAVE NATION

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Convener, Forum

27-02-2015