Bank employees unions keep four-day strike call on hold

Threaten to go on strike in February

Giving relief to millions of bank customers, bank employees’ unions have decided to keep a proposed four-day strike on hold.

The decision, taken on Monday night, comes in the wake of assurance by Indian Banks’ Association to resolve wage issues by the first week of February.

Bank unions had threatened to strike work from Wednesday.

“If there is no satisfactory outcome, fresh dates for a four- or five-day strike action in February would be announced,” said M V Murali, convenor of United Forum of Bank Unions, in a statement

Earlier, the unions had deferred a one-day strike on January 7 after bank managements improved their wage increase offer to 12.5 per cent from 11 per cent. At that time, the unions also climbed down from their stated wage increase demand of 23 per cent to 19.5 per cent.