Bank employees to go on strike tomorrow

Banking ops to be affected; unions say ptotest against govt's anti-labour policies

Trade union All India Bank Employees Association has called for a bank strike on 2 September, 2015 to protest the anti-labour, anti-people policies of the central government and support the call given by central trade unions.

"There are open attempts to amend the various labour laws in favour of the employers and to the detriment of the workers.  The neo-liberal economic policies are only aggravating the problems of the workers and common masses," C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, AIBEA, said. 

Banking activities including clearing operations will be affected and normal banking activities will be hampered.  

"The strike has been forced on the unions by the government’s anti-labour policies," Venkatachalam added. 

He alleged that there are continuous attempts to push through the reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of banks. More and more private capital and FDI is being encouraged, he said, adding that private sector companies are being given licences to start banks. 

Venkatachalam said the government is trying to privatise regional rural banks (RRBs) and primary agricultural co-operative societies (PACs) are under threat of winding up. Urban Co-operative Banks are under threat of delicensing while private sector executives are being imposed on public sector banks, he added.  

Besides, he said government schemes are being imposed on banks without proper infrastructure and manpower, resulting in harassment of bank staff. 

The employees will hold protest rallies and demostrations throughout the country on September 1 and September 2.