UFBEU calls for two-day nationwide bank strike, Aug 6-7
Press Trust of India / Vadodara Jul 15, 2009, 16:04 IST
The United Forum of Bank Employees Unions (UFBEU) representing about 950,000 bank employees across the country, has given a two-day nation-wide bank strike call on August 6 and 7 in support of their expedite settlement of wage revision demands.
Talking to PTI on phone today UFBEU Convenor H Venkatachalam blamed the Union government and the Indian Banks Association (IBA) for forcing them to go on strike in support of their wage revision demands, due since 2007.
He said the decision on the two-day nationwide bank strike on August 6 and 7 is taken after failure of meeting of UFBEU delegation with IBA president on Tuesday as it did not yield results. The demands include resumption of talks and expedite settlement, Venkatachalam said.
Venkatachalam reminded that, further to the talks held on June 9th last, the IBA had made an offer of 17.5% increase in wage bill. "However, unfortunately on June 17th, the IBA informed us that their offer stands withdrawn and reduced it to 15 per cent," Venkatachalam said.
The UFBEU met the Chairman of IBA on Tuesday and made it clear that the IBA's reduced offer is totally unacceptable besides being provocative.
The bank employees have been very patient so far. The hike is due from November 2007. They have postponed their strike. When central govt employees whose salary are paid out of budgetary provisions can get a hefty hike of 40% why not bank employees get an equal 25% hike which will be paid out of the hefty profits banks have made. If the recession has not hit India that hard it's only because of the vigil by the bank unions and employees that prevented the banking sector going the way the American banks have went. It's the IBA and the arrogant UPA Govt. are to be blamed for the hardship to the general public.
Is IBA listening?
I appeal to the Government on behalf of the officers of the public sector bank to advise IBA to revise the salary at par with the salary revision of Central Government Grade A officers in the pay band 3 and pay band 4 for equivalent length of service. No body can deny the immense contribution made by the PSBs through its commited bankers over the years and their pivotal role in the growth of economy can not be ignored . Hence , it will be a tribute to their hard work that the bank officers are given minimum scales at par with the Central Government officials.
one thing is sure the unions are not going to get any type of levy support from members if they settled any thing below 25 % which is most unlikely. It is realy a dramatic negotiation much more dramatic than Rakhi's Show.i have not seen any negotiation in past where the offer for settlement had comedown from government. it is clear cut bankruptcy of top union leader who had differed strike in past and who had not been able to convey the apathy of bank employee.
When IBA has gone back on its offer on behest of Govt,UFBU also need not stick on to agreed hike of 17.5%.Before global meltdown, the state and central Govt employees were benefitted by a leap of hike.Accepting for a lower hike cause injustice to bank employees. Govt and IBA should be liberal in meeting the demands of bank employees as many banks have declared positive rusults for Quarter one inspite of challenging environment.
The vibrant Indian economy vis-a-vis Banking Industry is the offshoot of honesty and hard work of Bank employees, toiling day in and day out even by sacrificing health, Weekly offs, etc. etc.,In these days of global recession. By virtue of well managed Nationalized Banks -the Indian Banks Association, our economy is intact. No time restrictions for Bank Officers, in so far as daily routine work is concerned.Though the employee-strength is just a million, but the quality and courteous service @ the counters, for the benefit of one billion populace, is exemplary. Shri Pranabh Mukherjee, the most enlightened and the Seniormost Minister of Finance is expected to be benevolent to settle the wage revision issues amicably and at his earliest; thereby strengthen this spring-board of economic success.
See these comrades started with 70% demand now begging for 17.5%. It is a clear sign of collusion between govt and ufbu. after 2 days strike govt will agree for the deamnd. it is going to be preplanned excercise to save the face of so called bank union leaders. any thing below parity with govt employees will be a plot with bank employees.
let the govt come with open VRS and after that govt may increase the sallary with 5% also who stops. Please show some courage and offer open for all VRS and bank employees will choose their path.
IBA has backed out on the behest of Govt. Politicians who are at the helm of affairs of the country can never be hopped to be realistic. They have cleverly played a figure game. Central and State govt. employees count much more than mere 8 lakh bank employee and that too ahead of Parliament elections when they were not sure to return to power. So they were prompt and generous to Govt to woo them to repay back dividends in elections. Why should they care about Bank employees when they are too small in size that too when there are no elections and no threat to Govt. In India these decisions are driven by political compulsions and not based on reasoning.
On the behest and interference of GoI IBA is cleverly doing dilly dallying tactics in allowing much needed revision of wages of bank employees when the same Govt. was generous to all central and state Govt. employees by allowing 35 to 40% hike of their salaries. As IBA has even gone back to 15 % increase after offering 17.5% earlier raising a question mark on credibility IBA.
Indian economy seems more resilient in face of global meltdown because of a strong banking system playing a pivotal role and nobody should invite trouble to nation by raising unrest among bank employees and compel them to go on the path of agitation as any mishandling of the issue will have definitely adverse impact on the economy.
Let UFBU give a deadline for 31-7-2009 and prepare for indefinite strike for seeking wage hike at par with central govt. employees.
Not UFBEU but only UFBU-United Forum of Bank Unions( because not only
employees, officers are also included ) The convener is
C.H. Venkitachalam, not mere H. venkitachalam-
S. Raghunatha Prabhu
State Bank of Travancore
Punnapra-688004-ALAPPUZHA
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