Patch-Up Talks Inconclusive, Sbi Stir Enters Fourth Day
Conciliatory talks between senior office bearers of the All India State Bank of India (SBI) Officers Association and SBI chairman and managing director M S Verma over the suspension of three SBI officials remained inconclusive even as SBI officers stayed away from work for the third day yesterday.
The two parties have decided to meet again this morning at 11.30 am to resolve the impasse. Two senior members of the All India SBI officers Association, president Suresh Rindani and general secretary Shanta Raju flew in to Mumbai yesterday for the meeting.
According to an official of the Association, since the decision to suspend the officers were taken at the behest of the finance ministry, they were sceptical about whether the SBI top management could take a decision to revoke the suspension without approval from the ministry.
Meanwhile, officers of the SBI continued to abstain from work for the third successive day in protest against the decision to suspend three of their colleagues R L Walker, chief manager; V N Patil, deputy manager; and M M Narang, deputy manager who were working in the Mumbai main branch.
According to officials of the SBI Officers Association (SBIOA), Mumbai circle, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned M M Narang for interrogation.
Suresh Rindani, chairman, SBIOA, told Business Standard that the strike would not be called off until the suspension was revoked.
Commenting on the future course of action if the impasse continued, Rindani said, The national executive committee meeting is scheduled for June 17 in Calcutta and it is there that a final decision will be taken. He was, however, sceptical about approaching the high court for redressal.
Earlier yesterday, the general secretary and the president of SBIOA and a SBI representative met the Labour Commissioner. V S Samant, president, SBIOA, Mumbai Circle, said, The meeting was more in the nature of a formality and nothing of substance was achieved. The two sides appraised the Commissioner of their respective positions.
For the last three days the activities of the Mumbai main branch, Services branch, Commercial branch, Securities Services branch and the CAG branch have come to a stand still.