Bank unions defer March 15 strike

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions in the Indian banking sector, on Friday decided to postpone their March 15 strike for early finalisation of wage revision, said top leaders of two large banking unions.

"Owing to the vitiated atmosphere in the banking sector following the Rs 11,300 crore scam/fraud in Punjab National Bank, the unions have decided not to proceed with the March 15 strike," C.H.Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association told IANS.

"The UFBU met at Chennai today (Friday) and decided to postpone the strike panned for March 15. Also it decided to step up campaign against reforms aimed at privatisation of government banks," D. Thomas Franco Rajendra Dev, General Secretary of the All India Bank Officers Confederation told IANS.

Dev said UFBU has also agreed to campaign amongst public on the contribution of public sector banks and how the policies of the government and the Reserve Bank of India have weakened the government owned banks.

The UFBU had earlier decided to go on strike on March 15 to press for early finalisation of wage revision. The wage revision was due in November 2017.

--IANS

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