Antwerp Diamond Bank union calls for strike from Jan 28

The union of the Antwerp Diamond Bank, which has announced its plans to wind down the operations here, today called for a three-day strike from January 28.
Last September, the Brussels-headquartered KBC Group, which owns Antwerp Diamond Bank (ADB), had announced its decision to wind down the loan portfolio and activities in a gradual manner across the world, including its sole branch in the city, which was opened in 2001.
The Mumbai branch lends to diamond traders. The bank has just 33 employees here.
The All-India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) has also extended its support to the proposed strike by the ADB union, AIBEA vice-president Vishwas Utagi said.

The KBC had said the winding down process will be carried out through a merger by absorption in which ADB will be absorbed into KBC.
"The KBC Group is going to absorb all the ADB employees based in Europe into it, but no decision has been taken on its Indian employees. We want job security of these employees," Utagi said.
Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner, Mumbai has called a conciliation meeting with the ADB management, its employees and AIBEA on January 27.