SBI's Delhi circle staff calls off strike

The State Bank of India Staff Association (SBISA) today deferred the proposed strike on September 1 in Delhi Circle following assurances from the management to consider demands pertaining to outsourcing and regularisation of sweepers.

"The management has agreed to resolve the demands amicably in a time-bound programme before October 26, 2006," SBISA general secretary V K Gupta said.

SBISA office bearers were on a sit-in dharna in Delhi from August 21 and had announced their plan to go for a one-day token strike on September 1 to demand regularisation of sweepers, discontinuation of outsourcing and alleged harassment of staff in Delhi Circle.

The banking services would have been affected in Delhi Circle which consists of 1,000 branches in western Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rajasthan Delhi and some parts of Haryana.

The main demands of SBISA are absorption of 170 sweepers on a permanent basis, discontinuation of outsourcing of watch & ward staff, sweepers and day-to-day work like signature scanning and clearing.

Gupta alleged Award Staff (employees other than officers) are being victimised through open violation of service conditions, such as reopening of departmental enquiries, holding investigations on anonymous complaints and non-payment of overtime wages among others.

SBISA has also demanded filling up of 5,000 posts lying vacant in Delhi Circle and steps to extend the similar medical facilities to the Award Staff as extended to others.