Bank of India stir a success, says AIBEA

More than 26,000 workmen employees participated in the all India strike

The All India Bank Employees' Association today termed the strike call given by it in support of the employees of public sector Bank of India as a "success".

"...More than 26,000 workmen employees (clerks and subordinate staff) participated in the all India strike in Bank of India today.The strike will continue tomorrow also," AIBEA General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said in a statement.

The strike is being held for pressing various demands, including recruitment of clerks and armed guards, peons, extend petrol expenses' reimbursement facility to employees, health check-up facility for employees and promotion for "subordinate staff" and to stop outsourcing activities, he said.

"The strike has been forced on the Union since management has not come forward to resolve the issue through mutual discussions, even as the notice for the strike was given to the management two months ago," he said.

He said due to the strike, banking services in all the 4,800 branches "were affected" today.

In Tamil Nadu, work in 216 branches were affected and 1,300 staff in Tamil Nadu participated in the strike.

In other districts of Tamil Nadu, employees held demonstrations before various branches demanding immediate resolution of the demands.

In Chennai, more than 250 employees held a demonstration before Bank of India and it was addressed by All India Bank Employees Association and Tamil Nadu Bank Employees Federation representatives.

He warned that if the bank's management did not resolve the demands, AIBEA would be compelled to give a call for solidarity action by all other bank employees.