Banking services in AP, Telangana hit as employees go on

: Banking services in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were hit as about 85,000 employees belonging to various banks participated in the nation-wide strike today, a bank employees union leader said.

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of various bank unions like AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW and NOBO called for the two-day strike today and tomorrow, pressing various demands including wage revision in the wake of the proposal for a two per cent hike in salary.

"About 85,000 employees and officers working in 13,000 branches of 21 public sector banks and 10 old generation banks in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana participated in the strike. Banking operations were totally paralysed," All-India Bank Employees Association National Secretary, BS Rambabu told PTI.

Currency chests and clearing houses also did not function, he said adding the situation will be similar tomorrow also.

He said demonstrations were held in front of all bank branches by the respective employees and centralised demonstrations were held before Andhra Bank headquarters and Central Bank regional office here among other places.

According to the union members, over 10 lakh bank employees and officers of the 21 public sector banks and old generation private banks and foreign banks were expected to join the two-day strike.