The wage revision talks between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of bank employees’ organisations, and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) have hit a hurdle after the government asked IBA to offer an increase of only up to 15 per cent instead of the 17 per cent indicated earlier.
UBFU Convenor C H Venkatachalam said IBA had told the unions that it could not offer more than a 15 per cent increase and its action was based on the government’s advice. “The talks, which were progressing smoothly to date, have met a hurdle. The reduction in the offer shows a lack of credibility on IBA’s part,” he said.
M V Nair, the newly-elected chairman of IBA, said the negotiations were still on and the final result would be available only after nine sittings of the managing committee. He reiterated that the 15 per cent rise was what the committee was looking for. Nair, who has been spearheading the negotiations from the banks’ side, is likely to meet finance ministry officials tomorrow in Delhi to discuss the issue.
Meanwhile, a senior public sector bank official associated with the talks said the bankers’ association would resume dialogues only after it got a clear view from the government.
UFBU sources said the offer of IBA was totally unacceptable and would constrain it to go back to its position prior to the agitation.
UFBU, however, said it would first meet the IBA chairman to sort out the issues amicably before deciding on its future course of action.
During the wage discussions held on June 9, IBA had shown its willingness to increase its offer from 15 per cent to 17 per cent subject to the approval of the Managing Committee. The unions had sought a minimum 20 per cent increase in the wage bill.
Following an understanding reached on a range of issues, bank unions had offered to defer their plan to go on strike and agreed to discuss the matter so that a settlement could be reached within this month.
IBA and the unions had also almost settled the issue of sharing the pension burden. Out of a total cost of Rs 6,000 crore, banks’ share was Rs 4,200 crore, while the balance was to come from the employees. IBA had also informed the unions about continuing the existing pension scheme till the end of March 2010.
The union held a meeting today in Bangalore to discuss the revised offer of IBA and take a view on it.
THERE IS A GROWING FRUSTRATION AMONG BANKERS THESE DAYS SINCE THE WORK PRESSURE,RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF BANK EMPLOYEES IS EVER INCREASING WHEREAS THE WAGES ARE ERODING.IN EARLY EIGHTIES OR LATE SEVENTIES,A BANK JOB WAS WORTH IT AND ATTRACTED TALENT FROM ALL THE SPHERES WHEREAS TODAY WE ARE LAGGING FAR BEHIND THAN OUR COUNTERPARTS IN GOVERNMENT JOBS WHO ARE ENJOYING MUCH BETTER SALARIES AND FACILITIES THAN WE PEOPLE TODAY.IT IS HIGH TIME AND GOVERNMENT AND IBA SHOULD TAKE A SERIOUS VIEW OF IT AND KEEP BANKERS AT LEAST AT PAR WITH GOVT. EMPLOYEES WHO WERE DRAWING MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY STARTED THEIR CAREERS IN BANKS.
SEHGAL
Posted by: jcwadia
November 14 , 2009, 12:37 IST
dear sehgal sir
it is true that govt employee are more enjoing then bank employee,but sir think,they are more united & work as per govt policy,& we are worked as per our higher officers will and surrender ourselvs,we sitted in office after office our in very late night,why? what we want to so,why we not work as per law,why we were cutting our collegue,only salary is not matter.There are so many issues are relating our social,family,natural,life.our job are not a proper job we are slabs & working under a dirty environment,there is no justice.we unable to get somthing in this atmosphere.please think our behaviour & go for unity & similarity without color,caaste,religion,region.frist of all we will be one then fight,& get desired benefits.
HOW THE SAME GOVT HAVE TWO YARDSTICKS FOR TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF EMPLOYEES. SAME GOVT HAVE GIVEN 60% HIKE TO CDA SCALE EMPLOYEES AND OFFERING A MEAGRE 15% TO BANK EMPLOYEES. EACH AND EVERY PSU BANK IN INDIA IS PROFIT MAKING AND DUE TO EFFICIENCY OF EMPLOYEES IT WAS NOT AFFECTED EVEN IN GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. INDIAN BANKING SECTOR MAINTAINED HEALTHY GROWTH RATE, WHEN GLOBAL GIANTS FALTERED AND FAILED. IS THIS THE WAY IBA AND GOVT HAVE DEVISED TO RECOGNISE THE EFFICIENCY? THERE WAS TIME WHEN BANK OFFICIALS WERE AT PAR WITH IAS/IPS BUT NOW THEY ARE EVEN BELOW PRIMARY TEACHERS. I THINK GOVT HAS BECOME INSENSITIVE AND UNDERSTANDS THE LANGUAGE OF AGITATION ONLY, SO LET ALL OF US BE READY TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF GOVT AND START AGITATING.
Posted by: jcwadia
September 28 , 2009, 19:26 IST
Dear shri OPSingh
it true,But it also true that we are not under in an umbera,in our each officer/employee wants to get more benefits alon my CHAMCHGIRI/CHAPLUSHI/FULLY SURRENDER WITH FAMILY IN THE FEET OF HIGHER AUTHORITY.I requested all the banking staff please come under one roof,stop
harresment,then fight you will won.
Thanks
the real spirit of sensible govt exists in increasing pay for the bankers,who nowadays cater for several sects of society adjusting to all the whims and fancies of states and central.the very prestige of our economy saved during this turmoil of US-Borne recession,because of ,our conservative bankers against all odds with handsome profits.justice prevails when the real performance is properly rewarded,hope good minds,exist in central finance gallery.
Just one million bank employees serving the needs of one billion Indians. They constitute the backbone of the entire Banking Industry.Banking industry is the spring-board of economic successes of India. It is managed amazingly well with committed and the honest emloyees and the Indian economy is insulated against global recessionary trends.A very good and well Managed IBA and the Banking Industry.Enough is enough. It is proper on the part of Minister for Finance to settle the wage revision talks amicably and thereby enable the banking employees to strive for ensuring overall progress of India to newer heights.
UFBU has called for a two day strike on 6/7 august 2009. Is it not foolish to strike work which will not be felt by anybody. It looks like a show and not genuine concern for the bank employees who still believe their leadership. If the leaders have any sense let them call for indefinite strike from 28th of August 2009 onwards and let the whole nation realize how important banks roll in the day to day life in the country. Government will also realize and instruct IBA to conclude wage revision. this time UFBU should not accept any thing less than 20% and not 17.5% earlier offered by IBA and reduced by the Govt later to 15%. Leaders prove your self or leave way for others to achieve.
Posted by: jcwadia
August 04 , 2009, 19:49 IST
Dear shri Tamilzha
i am agree with you,but the selfishness leadership of banking not interested
to revised bank emplyees wages,they wants only their freedom,right to harashment of bank employees.they also interested to contineued their leadership without doing better foe employees.At this time bank employee should refuse wage revision and practice with their families to fast 3 days
in a weak it will save food & money to IBA.
Request to Business Standard News paper; Sir., More than 10,00,000 bank employees are suffering govts apathy. We expect cooperation from such a respected news paper to high light the genuine demands of bankmen so that Govt/IBA is pressurised and demands of bank employees are accepted amicably. This move will high rise the image of esteemed News paper among Bank employees. I expect that close liason be maintained by Business standard News Paper correspondents with concerned parties UFBU/IBA so that each and every latest development is published in the News Paper very next day of developments of UFBU/IBA.
Negotiaion with IBA failed.IBA/Govt is not agreeable to give wage revision more than 15% which is not acceptable to UFBU. UFBU is going yo give a strike call for strike nationwide on 6/8/2009. Let us be united and give a befitting and hard hitting message to govt that united we stand and our genuine demands have to be accepted by IBA. There cannot be step motherly treatment to Bank employees/officers on wage revision. Let us make strike of 6/8/2009 a GRAND SUCCESS.
Posted by: jcwadia
July 25 , 2009, 06:05 IST
Dear Thakral ji
Why one day strike,why not it will be contineue till wage revision.why we call of strike declared.It is not possible.The retired officre bearer thought
only benefit of themselves not about working employees, they should be go out and workin employees can be headed association.Then we can get better wage revision.
thanks
Posted by: amarjot
July 15 , 2009, 14:07 IST
This happened due to weal leadership of bank unions. They were not able to fetch a good deal fronm the govt. before the elections. Due to their lackadasical attitude millions of employees are suffering. indefinite strike is the only solution of the problem
It is strange that the Unions nowadays are very slow and weak in taking drastic actions and decisions unlike inthe past.SBI people got their dues by persistent and devout effort some time ago. Why not these Bank people rise to the situation and get their justified demands? why this sluggishness adn lethargic attitude? There are many retired people who are suffereing on account of low interest rates and unable to meet their ends due to rising costs. The Unions are hereby reqwuested to change their soft attitude and resort to continuous struggle.
Posted by: thakral
July 12 , 2009, 09:25 IST
Victim of circumstances, pre election and post election scenes etc., They are doing the action. But it is very difficult to huge money from bank managements in the shape of wage revision, 2nd option of pension. Just realise, if we have increase the pay packets of our house hold workers, how much bargaining we people do to increaase even palty sum. No doubt we are organised yet we are to see the constraints also
UFBU delegation is going to meet the chairman of IBA on 14/7/2009 to impress upon early settlement of demands of bank employees. Let us wish Good sense prevails upon IBA/GOVT to settle the genuine demands of Bank employees/officers to avoid agitational path by the workers/officers.
Posted by: Ramanujam
July 12 , 2009, 20:57 IST
please keep updating about the talks between UFBU and IBA Chief on 14th July 2009.
indian banks total business has grown three times. But the manpower is decreasing alarmingly. The total salary expenditure has come down from 25% of net profit to 14%. It is pity that the sufferings of bank employee's not felt by the newly elected Government. The white collar job image shattered. They are now corned by customers for belated service due to least man power, cornered by management to do works more than working hours. They are not allowed to take leave for domestic functions and not even for bad health. Their demand for 20% rise is not so high compared to their work load and bank earnings. I implore the Government and IBA to settle the issue early as their hands are pure, and they are also the part of saving India from GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS.
During last meeting of UFBU at Banglore IBA informed that Govt is not agreeable to wage revision more than 15% and UFBU was to meet in delegation to IBA chairman before launching any agitational programme. There is no latest information as regards what is happening regarding wage revision and 2nd option of pension, The members are curious to know the latest development. UFBU or its contituents should keep the members informed of latest developments. Can any body tell latest position
The govt is playing a game by reducing wagerevision offer as Unions were dedemanding more than 20% rise inorder to presuurise the unions to accept lowest wage revision Govt palyed this nefarious design.I think this bad on the part of the Govt. Similarly in the year 2000 2001 govt deceitly gave press statements that Govt is going to reduce retirement age of bank employees from 60 years to 58 years but it did not happen till date. it was only to incite the employees to opt for VRS 2000. May good sense prevail upon Govt so that bank employees get handsome deserved wage revision and 2nd option of pension for in service and all past retires for the period 1996 till date with PF as option.
Govt. attitude towards Bank employees is very indifferent, specially whene it comes to wage revision. I think bank employees are looked as maid servents who are treated indifferently for wages yet very important for the work they do.
Posted by: jcwadia
July 25 , 2009, 05:58 IST
Dear G L Sharma
You right,but we are not in an unity,we are cutting ourselves,we are believe in CHAMCHAGIRI,CHUGLY marking a average/below average for our coulleges why
we are doing so.Dear when we behave as stepbrother in our family why the govt
will thougt good about you.
Posted by: Raj
July 07 , 2009, 00:19 IST
Dear Sharma u are absolutely correct.These politicians have to be beaten up to blue by the bankers.These rascals are doing all the populist expenditures by increasing wages of govt employees,agri debt waver for farmers, but when it comes to bankers,they are behaving like a rogues.This IBA charman has to be thrased out of the office and all he netas of the banks are equally responsible for this pathetic condition.
how can govt.do this to bankers.The same govt has given 60 % rise to its employees who are expenditure point.Bankers earn their salary on their own.This is not acceptable.some times it shows that this is orcheotrasted
drama between unions and govt.
Mr.C H Venkatachalam ,please do not play with the future of we bankers
and show some transparency.Please do not compromise for some consideration.Please rise to the ocassion and become immortal by getting
memorable wage revision for bank employees.
Posted by: ram
June 30 , 2009, 06:36 IST
Dear Rahul,
You are right. These govt. runner i.e. Netas have no hitch in increasing their salary and allowance many fold at a strok. They have increased their salary(which comes out of our hard earned money which they tax) within 2 minuts without discussion. They raise their property from lacs to crores within 5 years(with mal practices which we bankers do not do) which is not questioned. And these beaurocrats practically named as bribocrats i.e. they take huge salary for comming to office and take purse(from the industrilists and others) for complition of their work. Here Bankers dealing hrs. have been increased and overtime is not paid for extra sitting for completing their desk job. These people are shameless.
Content Guide
The wage revision talks between the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of bank employees’ organisations, and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) have hit a hurdle after the government asked IBA to offer an increase of only up to 15 per cent instead of the 17 per cent indicated earlier.
