Unions await clarity on IDBI Bank strike

Strike was planned over the Centre's proposal to cut its shareholding to less than 50%

Unions that had announced a day’s strike in IDBI Bank over the Centre’s plan to reduce its shareholding, are seeking clarity on whether orders by two courts go against their strike.

According to CH Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association, a court in Karnataka and another one in Telangana had restrained unions from conducting strikes in the bank over March 28-31.

The orders were issued on petitions filed by IDBI Bank against a four-day strike call by a section of employees.

The AIBEA and the All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) had issued a one-day strike call on March 28. However, a section of employees announced a strike for four days from March 28. This would mean nine continuous non-working days for the bank starting from March 25.

“There is confusion over the terms of the strike. It is only in IDBI Bank and not in other banks,” Venkatachalam said. Various unions were mentioned by IDBI Bank in its petitions and it had to be clarified whether the order was binding on all of them, he added.

The one-day strike is against the central government’s proposed move to reduce its equity in IDBI Bank to less than 50 per cent.