AIBOC to strike in support of Dhanlaxmi Bank officers

The All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) is mulling a call for a nationwide strike and a two-day Kerala state strike if the talks with the management of Dhanlaxmi Bank do not yield positive results, said a senior official.

"The bank has terminated the services of P.V. Mohanan, general secretary, Dhanlaxmi Bank Officers Organisation, without giving any reason or any show cause notice. It was a terse termination order by the bank," Harvinder Singh, general secretary of AIBOC, told IANS on Monday.

According to him, officers of Dhanalaxmi Bank are on strike for the past 16 days nationwide against the summary dismissal of Mohanan without him being given any opportunity to present his case.

Singh said the management of Dhanalaxmi Bank has agreed to meet AIBOC officials on Tuesday at Thrissur in Kerala where its head quarters are based.

"After putting 38 years of service, the bank suddenly found my services are not required. I was served a one-line termination order this month without giving any reason. I was to retire next March," Mohanan said.

Union officials said the bank management turned hostile after a scam in one of the branches in Mumbai was brought out by a whistle blower.

Meanwhile, members of AIBOC here showed solidarity with the Dhanlaxmi Bank officers who are on strike, P.Vijaysenan, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu unit of AIBOC, told IANS.

G.Sreeram, managing director and CEO of Dhanlaxmi Bank, was not available for comments when contacted by IANS.