Aibea Threatens Stir Against Stanchart

The All India Bank Employees Association (Aibea) has threatened to go on strike nationally if the management of Standard Chartered Bank (StanChart) and Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank (SCGB) did not withdraw their mass transfer order.

Speaking at a press conference, Aibea general secretary Tarakeswar Chakraborti said: "We will continue with the local strike at the banks till the management withdraws its orders".

Customers have been inconvenienced and obstructed from using ATMs by the union since Saturday, when StanChart staff went on strike after 172 employees from the local head office were transferred to two locations at Metiaburuz and Kasba Industrial estate. SCGB workers went on a 48-hour strike on Wednesday following the transfer of 27 employees from Kolkata to Darjeeling.

The StanChart strike continued today though the Calcutta High Court had ordered reopening of the bank on Wednesday and directed employees not to obstruct any visitor to the bank or its facilities.

According to Chakraborti, although StanChart has 172 employees, it was outsourcing work from some 250-odd employees retained on a daily basis. At SCGB, 135 employees were idle while the bank was outsourcing services from 60-odd outsiders. Aibea alleged that StanChart and SCGB were trying to coerce employees to opt for a voluntary retirement scheme by issuing these transfer orders.