SBI strike to continue as talks fail

 Finance Minister P Chidambaram had called the meeting after striking employees and management failed to arrive at an agreement during their talks in Mumbai last night.

 "Unless we are given an honourable settlement the strike will continue," All India SBI Officers Federation general secretary Shanta Raju said after the meeting.

 The union stand remains intact vis-a-vis Rs 13,000 pension per month as the cut-of point. However, the government was willing to give Rs 9,500 only, which covers only 50% of the lower staff, he said.

 Raju also said the finance ministry was misleading by saying that SBI employees get three retirement benefits