The Strike Notice signed by the General Secretaries of the unions and associations in BSNL has been served on CMD BSNL and Secretary, DOT with copies to Minister Communications, Minister for Labour and Employment and Chief Labour Commissioner on 12th March 2015. The 20 point demands of the Forum have been focused.
The notice was served after a well attended demonstration in front of the corporate office which was addressed by the unions/associations leaders.

There are only 40 days left for the strike. This is a ‘Do or Die’ battle. Each and every worker has to be part of this struggle for existence. Nobody can keep away.

The Branch / District level secretaries and leaders have to meet each and every worker and convince the need for active propaganda and also full participation in the strike. Yes, two days wages may be lost. But his is for getting our pay and wages continuously and being in the job. Small sacrifices will be required for bringing back BSNL in to a healthy organisation. It is our duty to revive BSNL which has given us our bread and butter for long years.

Start your preparations now. Make the government understand that we will not accept any non=sense. Take the support of the people with you; You are sure to win the battle.

Unprecedented things are happening in the Kerala Assembly!

The opposition, LDF, in the Kerala Assembly declared that they will not allow the Finance Minister K.M.Mani, allegedly involved in bribe taking, will not be allowed to present the budget. They surrounded the assembly from put side. Inside the opposition MLAs protested and blocked the entrances. The speaker could not even enter the assembly hall. But the Finance Minister, surrounded by his MLAs on his own read a few words and declared that the Budget has been presented.

Without Speaker, the Chairman of the house, how the budget can be presented? It is nothing but a drama. The strong protest of the people and MLAs has succeeded in exposing the UDF and the Finance Minister.
Lakhs of people all over the state are continuing protests.

Com.VAN Namboodiri, Advisor and Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretay AIBDPA met Shri Rakesh Garg, Secretary DOT and discussed about early settlement of 78.2 per cent IDA fixation for BSNL pensioners. He assured to take necessary action in the mattenr. He also spoke to Member(Services) and asked for early preparation of the Cabinet  Note.

The Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations today served strike notice on CMD BSNL and  Secretary DOT after a massive lunch hour demonstration in front of Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, the corporate office of BSNL
The demonstration was presided over by Com.C.Singh, Chairman Forum. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, spoke in brief on the agitational programme and the need for making the strike on 21-22 April a big success. All the General Secretaries spoke.
Demonstrations were organised all over the country.

INDIA INSURANCE EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION
LIC BUILDING SECRETARIAT ROAD HYDERABAD 500 063
(E-mail: aiieahyd@gmail.com)
Cir.No.06 / 2015 11th March, 2015
To all the Zonal/Divisional/State/Regional Units
Dear Comrades,
9th March One Day Strike – Resounding Success
The call for one day strike on 9th March 2015 received overwhelming response from employees of LIC and the four Public Sector General Insurance Companies across the country. This massive strike action was not just a protest against the totally undemocratic action of the government but was also a powerful message that insurance employees are determined to carry forward the struggle to protect the interests of the national economy, insuring public and the public sector insurance industry. We congratulate all insurance employees for making the strike action unprecedented success. We also congratulate the employees for so spectacularly exhibiting their unity and resolve to fight the anti-people policies of the government.
The passing of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2015 in Lok Sabha despite opposition both in the house and outside clearly showed the shameless eagerness of the BJP led NDA to create conditions for maximization of profits for the big Indian Corporate houses and the foreign capital by exploiting the household savings of the people. The government response to the debate in the Lok Sabha lacked substance and conviction. The success of our campaign was clearly visible when members of the opposition raised questions on the necessity of FDI hike from 26% to 49%; ridiculed the argument that Indian partners lack resources for investment; and termed the excuse of low penetration as far from existing reality. Some members pointed out that despite a low per capita income, the life insurance penetration in India is better than most of the developed nations. They also questioned the wisdom of government to permit disinvestment of most profitable PSGI companies. The most heartening feature of the debate was the unanimity that LIC is the finest institution in terms of claim settlement and other servicing standards. The government was asked to share the circumstances that led to a ‘U’ turn by the BJP from its earlier position of strong opposition to the UPA version of the Bill to become the strong advocates of the same Bill. The government had no answer to any of these questions and only utilizing its brute majority in the Lok Sabha it could succeed in securing the passage of the Bill.
The insurance employees remain undeterred. The struggle now will be taken from the Parliament to the public domain. The success of halting the FDI hike for more than 10 years when it was first proposed in 2004 by the UPA-I government is indeed incredible and gives confidence to take the struggle forward.
The strike call was enthusiastically responded by the insurance employees. The East Central Zone recorded a strike percentage of 97% followed by South Central Zone with 92%. Almost all Zones have reported a strike participation of nearly 85%. This is a huge strike indeed. A large number of divisions have recorded strike participation of over 90 percent. Visakhapatnam (SCZ) tops with 99.7% strike followed Asansol (EZ) with 99.5%, Bhagalpur (ECZ) 99.02% and Burdwan (EZ) with 99%. This apart, 33 divisions across the country recorded more than 95% of strike.
We sincerely thank Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) and BSNL Employees’ Union (BSNLEU) for extending solidarity for our strike action.
The success of the strike has clearly demonstrated to the government that the passing of the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2015 will not subdue the struggle of the insurance employees. The insurance employees will continue to fight to defend the national sovereignty, interests of the public sector insurance industry and its huge number of policyholders. We once again congratulate the valiant employees of LIC and the four PSGI companies for the spectacular strike action.
With revolutionary greetings,
Comradely yours,
General Secretary.

On the sustained demand of the BSNLCCWF and due to the intervention of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour and Central EPF Commissioner, the BSNL Board has approved for implementing EPF for casual workers with retrospective effect from the formation of BSNL ie. from 01-10-2000. The orders are expected to be issued within a week. This will much benefit the concerned workers.