State Bank to keep off today's strike

Clearing operations are likely to be affected as over five lakh employees of public sector banks, barring the State Bank of India (SBI), have decided to join the one-day strike called by trade unions affiliated to left parties to protest the government's economic policies. Branch operations at most public sector banks are also likely to be hit.

Employees of the nationalised banks are joining the strike to register their protest against moves to merge public sector banks and permission to outsource some banking functions.

SBI employees are not joining the strike since the industrial action has political overtone. Unions representing officers in the banking sector are not taking part in the strike.

Two left trade unions - the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) "" are supporting the strike call.

The employees of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and regional rural banks would also participate in the strike, AIBEA joint secretary Vishwas Uttagi said.