The 2.5 lakh employees of BSNL, including executives, started their Two Days Strike from 21st April 2015 demanding the government to take immediate action to revive BSNL, improve its financial viability and for a better service to the people. The twenty points demands of the strike are mainly intended for the improvement of the BSNL, which was having a decline in the last few years.
 
The strike call has been given by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, which is the umbrella organisation of BSNL employees. Though the notice was given four months back and the strike deferred twice due to various reasons, neither the Secretary, DOT nor the Communications Minister could find time to meeting the Forum and sort out the issues. While the Communications Minister, now and then issues statements supporting BSNL, no action is taken for the same, making the assurances hollow.
 
The main demands of the strike are, immediate procurement of equipments like mobile lines, broad band modem, cables, drop wire, telephone instruments etc. which are essential for development, expansion and for better maintenance; refund of the charges for the surrendered spectrum coming to Rs. 6,700 crore, payment of Rs.1250 crore to BSNL which is already allotted to BSNL in lieu of ADC, liberal subsidy from the USOF for the loss-making connections provided by BSNL in the lakhs of villages as  per the universal service policy of the government etc. With a view to favour and support the private companies, BSNL is being ignored and all support to it withdrawn.  The government should implement it assurances to the BSNL, like payment of ADC, Refund of licence fee, liberal subsidy from USO Fund etc.
 
New recruitment is required considering the fact that more than 1,50,000 employees have retired during the last 15 years, with only 30,000 new recruitment. Fresh recruitment is urgently required. However, the BSNL Management has already taken a decision to make 70,000 workers as supernumerary, with the intention of retrenching them through VRS. This will seriously affect the services.
 
The strike will continue on 22nd April 2015 also.