'Disheartened' about bank strike: Chief Labour Commissioner

As the Bank Employees Association termed their one-day strike today a success, Chief Central Labour Commissioner A S Nayak said the staffers went ahead with their stir despite an appeal to drop it.
"All I can say is that I am really disheartened to know that the bank strike is taking place. In fact, I had conducted a conciliation meeting on 26 of this month which was attended by representatives of all India Bank Associations, Management and the Ministry of Finance", Nayak told PTI here.
Stating that the issues concerning the employees were discussed in detail during the meeting, he said, "the major issues they raised were regarding privatisation of banks and recovery of bad loans from public sector banks".

"The management, the Unions and the Department of Financial Services agreed that there was room for further dialogue and negotiations. I had infact issued an appeal to all the bank not to go ahead with the strike and should engage in dialogue so that this strike is averted", he said.
"But I am very sad to know that it has taken place today", he said.
United Forum of Bank Unions consisting of nine trade unions called the strike in which 10 lakh bank employees and officers participated.
Nayak was here to participate in a conference "Effective Enforcement of Labour Laws" held between employees, trade unions and government officials.

"It is a very very fruitful meeting and the suggestions, the inputs we received from all stake holders were very handy for us", he said.