Bank Unions To Strike On July 4 Over Arrears

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), comprising nine unions of bank employees/officers, has decided to go on an all-India bank strike on July 4 demanding the immediate payment of wage revision arrears to the employees of UCO Bank, United Bank of India and Indian Bank.

The forum, which met here today, regretted that there was no response on the part of the Indian Banks Association, the bank management concerned and the Central government on the release of arrears for the employees/officers of the three banks from November 1, 1997, to June 30, 2000.

The meeting felt that the banks concerned had made progress in all spheres and fields of performance.

"While the banks have sufficient funds to make payment to voluntary retirement scheme optees, the legal dues to the employees/officers are being delayed indefinitely resulting in acute and widespread discontentment and unrest and frustration among the employees," the forum said in a release.

In view of the above circumstances, the forum said direct action had become necessary. If the arrears are not disbursed, all the employees of the three banks will once again go on strike on July 17.

UFBU will meet on July 25 in Delhi to take stock of the situation and decide further course of action, the press release added.

The nine constituents of the forum, representing more than a million employees/officers, are All India Bank Employees Association, All India Bank Officers' Confederation, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Officers' Congress, Indian National Bank Employees Federation, National Organisation of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers.