9 bank unions to strike on Tuesday to protest 'anti-people banking reforms'

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions in the sector, has called a one-day strike on February 28 to protest the government's "anti-people banking reforms" as well as to demand compensation for employees for extra work done on account of demonetisation.

United Forum of Bank Unions, comprising nine unions in the banking sector -- namely AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW and NOBO -- bank employees and officers in all public sector banks, including SBI, all old-generation private banks, foreign banks, Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks will observe one-day strike on February 28," All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said in a statement here.

"The unions in the banking industry have been fighting for more than two decades against the reform measures of the government as these are against the interests of general public and labour force in the country," AIBEA said.

"Further, every effort is being made to outsource permanent jobs in the banking industry, too, which is fraught with risks," it added.

Venkatachalam said the strike call comes after all attempts to find a solution to the demands raised by the unions yielded no results.

The conciliation meeting before the Chief Labour Commissioner on February 21 failed to break the deadlock as the bank management body -- Indian Banks Association (IBA) -- did not agree to the union demands.

Most state-run banks have informed customers that functioning of branches and offices will be hit if the strike goes ahead on Tuesday.