Bank unions to observe strike on July 6

All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) along with other five Bank unions are to observe a countrywide strike in the subsidiary Banks of State Bank of India on July 6, 2009 . The strike was defered by three days, earlier the association called for a strike on July 3 at SBI’s associate banks to oppose merger plans of their banks with the parent bank SBI.

C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, AIBEA said that every time the Government authorities or the Bank managements have been saying that there are no policy decisions or guidelines in this regard. However, there have been overt and covert attempts to merge the banks. Recently, there have been some public statements by the top management of SBI that given the signal from the Government, the six associate banks of SBI would be merged with it in a period of three to six months.

“Against this unilateral approach of the management, we have expressed our concern and protest. However, on June 19, without giving proper and adequate notice, an agenda has been brought in the last minute as a table item in the Board meeting of State Bank of Indore proposing to close down and go for merger/acquisition of State Bank of Indore with/by State Bank of India.
 
Calling it as unwarranted move, he said members of AIBEA along with National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers’ Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Employees Federation and Indian National Bank Officers Congress will observe a country wide strike in the subsidiary banks on July 6.

The demand is “do not merge State Bank of Indore and other associate banks with SBI” said Venkatachalam.

The association along with other unions is also planning for demonstrations, dharna rallies on July 6.