SBI officers' nationwide strike on June 6

Their demands include a review of the existing State Bank pension scheme, recruitment of adequate staff, termination of the contract system and regulated working hours for officers.

"The strike would be observed nationwide. The government and the Indian Banks Association (IBA), despite having signed an agreement on various issues, have not taken any significant steps to resolve our issues," All India State Bank Officers' Federation's General Secretary, G D Nadaf told reporters here.

Nadaf said SBI management, with its decision to go ahead with the merger proposal of State Bank of Saurashtra, was not taking into account the feelings of employees on the matter.

"Such a merger between State Bank and its associates will lead to a plethora of issues, including termination of jobs in different categories. Any such move (of merger) will definitely be met by nationwide protests from the unions," Nadaf said.

Bank unions had struck work early this year to voice their protests on various critical issues including the merger of state-owned banks and one more option for employees to join in the pension scheme.

Later, bank unions and the Indian Banks' Association had signed an agreement following intervention by the Union Finance Minister, leading to deferral of the two-day nationwide strike called for, just prior to the Budget in February end.

Nadaf charged the IBA with not taking any steps so far to resolve the outstanding issues.