Referendum on insurance unions on February 10

A referendum to recognise employees unions and staff associations of the four public sector general insurance companies - United India Insurance, New India Assurance, National Insurance and Oriental Insurance - will be held on February 10.

P P Mohanan, Kerala state general secretary of the General Insurance Officers' All India Association, said the referendum, which was scheduled to be held in August 2002, was postponed at the last minute.

Now the managements are implementing the 'check-off system' as directed by the Chennai High Court. Under the check-off system, company managements would cut the annual membership fee of unions in general insurance industry directly from the employees' salary and remit them to the respective unions.

Unions/associations representing 20 per cent or more employees in each company will be granted recognition.

The submission of irrevocable letter of authority will be done on February 10, 2004, at all the offices of the respective companies.

The authorisation exercised by employees will be valid for two years. The counting of letters of authorisation will be held at respective head offices on February 19 and 20, Mohanan added.