Dear Comrades,
Re: Proposed (1/2 an hour) increase in Business Hours
at 21 branches in CHENNAi w.e.f 16-11-09
STAYED by Dy.Chief Labour Commr.(Central)
* * * * * *
The Chennai Metro Region’s Administrative Office has issued a notification vide their circular/s dated 4th Nov. 09 notifying to Customers as well as staff members informing the proposed change in business hours from 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm in the case of 10 – 5 branches and from 2.30 pm to 3.00 pm in the case of 9 – 4 branches with effect from 16th of this month
On hearing the same, our office bearers fixed up appointment with the Regional Manager (DGM) and discussed the matter in threadbare on 10-11-09. During the discussions, when we posed the question “What prompted the CMR management to propose to further increase of ½ an hour business hours, the DGM replied that to increase the business of the Region in the light of stiff competition and the facilities like extended business hours by Private Sector Banks. Whereas our Dy.Regional Head supplemented by saying that the management received lot of requests from customers to extend the business hours.
We responded that our staff had better experience with regard to increase in business and bitter experience of their sufferings during the operation of 12 hrs/24 hrs. banking business in our Bank in the past. We also quoted that despite sufferings on account of severe shortage of staff at all levels, the management did not want to reverse it until the previous CMD’s retirement from Bank’s service. On conclusion part, DGM appealed to us that he will review the proposal after a month’s time.
We reminded him that our management had already extended ½ an hour business increase in the case of 12 hrs/24 hrs. banking branches when it was discontinued and such branches should also be brought down by ½ hour business from 4 pm to 3.30 and 3 pm to 2.30 pm. as the time left over for internal processing is only 1 ½ hrs. and most of customers are banking from 3.30 pm to 4.00 pm unofficially and if business hours are increased to 4 pm the customers will tend to extend upto 4.30 pm and leaving the staff members to sit beyond stipulated hours of working under the Bipartite settlement and that would invite IR problem with regard to payment of overtime etc. in the case of Clerical/substaff cadre and overburden for the Officers who are already undergoing tremendous pressure of sitting late for a minimum period of 2 to 3 hours beyond the working hours and attending office on Sundays/Holidays. Since there was no improvement in the negotiation and ended in failure, we conveyed to the management that we may have to move the matter to Arbitration as an alternative.
Accordingly, after two days ie. on 12th we raised an Industrial Dispute under ID Act before the Dy.Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt.of India, Sastri Bhavan, Chennai and the same was admitted and both Management and Union were advised to maintain STATUS QUO under the ID Act until the conciliation process is over. The conciliation proceedings will commence on 4th Dec.2009 and the management was advised to send their comments before that. Both the Regions ie. Bank of Baroda, CMR-Chennai and Tamilnadu Region were involved in this Dispute.We also prayed in the petition that business hours upto 4 pm/3.00 pm extended to the so-called 12 hrs / 24 hrs. branches when it was reversed to working hours, should also be brought down to 3.30 pm/2.30 pm respectively.
VIEWS OF UNITS/MEMBERS INVITED:
In the meantime, we call upon all our Branch Secretaries to send their views if any, in this matter, by convening their UNIT meeting immediately for the proposed STRIKE call on 16th Dec. 09 against the merger move of State Bank of Indore with State Bank of India. (A Separate circular is being released on the matter of 16th Dec. 09 Strike)
Morcha to Parliament - March on to 3rd Dc.2009:
In response to our Union’s call around 50 comrades from our UNION, all over the State voluntarily participating in the said Morcha on their own expenses. Though a good number of comrades around another 50 desired to participate in this Morcha, due to their pre-occupation on account of domestic commitment like marriage of their sons/daugthters/relatives etc. However, we are happy with the positive response of the Units/Members in this regard. AIBEA/AIBOA have jointly given a call for participation by not less than 1,00,000 Bank employees from all over the country in New Delhi on 3-12-2009 for taking a Morcha to Parliament.
Trade Union Training programme organized by AIBEA/AIBOA & Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union at the initiative of AROBIFU at Chennai – 24-26th Nov.2009.
On behalf of TNBEF, out of seven members, the undersigned has been nominated for the above Training programme. The following subjects will be dealt in the Training programme:
1. Working Class Movement
2. Challenges before Trade Unions
3. Impact of Globalisation Policies
4. Leadership qualities etc.
In the above training programme besides Bank employes from India, Bank employees from Asian countries are going to be participated. The undersigned will be participating in the said training.
Yours Comradely,
(N Sachidanandam)
GENERAL SECRETARY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Petition filed by us before Dy CLC, Chennai on 12th Nov 2009
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BANK OF BARODA EMPLOYEES’ UNION (AIBEA)
(Affiliated to AIBEA )
C/o Bank of Baroda
5 E C Sreet
Chennai 600 001
12th Nov. 2009
The Dy.Chief Labour Commissioner (Central)
Ministry of Labour
Govt.of India
Sastri Bhavan, Haddows Road
Chennai 600 006
Sir
Re: Violation of existing working conditions in respect of
Working Hours & Business hours thus resorting to
Unfair Labour Practices.
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The service conditions which include working hours for the Bank employees are decided by the Industrywide (Banking) Settlement between our parent organization – AIBEA along with others and IBA (Indian Banks Association) representing managements. The total working hours on week days are 6 ½ and 4 hrs on Saturday. Out of which, the business hours are 4 hours ie. In case of 10 am to 5 pm
Branches, the business hours are 10 am – 2 pm. This practice was in vogue for decades together. This 4 hrs. business hours were UNILATERALLY changed by the Bank few years back, to 5 hrs. thus reducing internal processing time from 2 ½ hrs. to 1 ½ hrs. Even our repeated representations through various forum demanding to restore 4 hrs. for business and 2 ½ hours for internal processing were not considered by the Management.
During the period between 1990 – 2008 the Bank underwent lot of advancements in computer net working ie. From ALPM machines, to LAN and then to CBS (Core Banking Solutions). Simultaneously, short of retrenchments, all types of man power reduction took place from 2001 which includes special VRS to Bank employees which drove nearly 1.25 lakh employees to leave the Banks’ services. In our Bank around 10000 employees left the Bank. The vacancies caused on account of this VRS were not filled up as a part of pre-condition till the year 2006. Due to persistent pressure created by our parent organization which includes All India Strikes on various occasions, the Bank Managements started recruiting in all cadres in a small way from 2007 onwards. Still such recruitments are not commensurate to the vacancies exist. Our further intensive struggles are going on for matching recruitment at the Industry level.
Whereas the incremental growth of our Bank like any other Banks, is manifold with the existing reduced staff thus creating more pressures on each and every employee of our Bank. Notwithstanding the pressures created due to over work load with lesser staff, our Bank of Baroda management introduced 12 hours Banking Servives between 8 am to 8 pm and round the clock business – 24 hours banking all over the country which includes Tamilnadu state. During this abnormal pressure, many employees left the Bank’s services by resignation and voluntary retirement all over India. Statistics will prove sufficiently. Due to our continuous struggle launched by our All India Bank of Baroda Emp.Coord.Committee throughout India and followed by negotiations at apex level, raising industrial disputes at various centers, finally, the Bank management abolished 12 hrs and 24 hours banking in most of the places. At the time of abolition of 12 hrs. and 24 hrs. banking, the management again UNILATERALLY INCREASED business hours from 5 hours to 5 ½ hours and thus reducing internal processing hours from 1 ½ hours to 1 hour. This 1 hours is absolutely not possible for internal processing and the matter was discussed in various forums of the Bank. The Bank was informing us that it is only on trial and the same will be reviewed in due course. Even after nearly one year, the matter is still on trial and not yet reviewed. Out of nearly 38 branches in Chennai City, more than 10 branches the increased business hours are implemented.
While we eagerly await for restoration of 5 hrs for Business Hours instead of 5 ½ hrs., to our surprise and dismay, the Bank management in Chennai issued a Circular UNILATERALLy No.RO:CMR:HRM:45/3322 dt.4-11-2009 proposing to increase the Business Hours from 5 hrs to 5 ½ hours with effect from 16—11—2009 At about 16 branches, thereby making almost all the branches in Chennai city has been made to work for Customers for 5 ½ leaving only one hour for internal processing/tallying. It is nothing but deliberate attempt by the Bank to harass the employee on the plea that the employees should complete the work and go. However, as a responsible organization, we fixed up an appointment with the Regional Head ie. Dy.General Manager (CMR) and discussed the matter threadbare demanding to restrict business hours for 5 hours in all the branches. After patient hearing the Regional Head made a statement that this proposed change is only for trial. In other words, the discussions have not yielded any positive results. It may be observed in the said circular that no lunch break is mentioned which is nothing but violations of various provisions of Labour Laws.
We therefore request your good offices, to direct the management of Bank of Baroda, Chennai Metro Region not to implement the proposed changes at the following branches
1. Chingleput, 2. EC Street 3. Egmore 4. Ramavaram 5. Kovoor 6. I>B>B, 7 Mangadu, 8Mount Road 9 Perungudi, 10 Purasawalkam, 11. Royapuram 12, St.Thomas Mount 13 Tambaram 14 Thiruvallur 15 Valasaravakkam and 16 Wimco Nagar.
Until the conciliation process is over’ We also request you to direct the Dy.General Manager (Tamilnadu) Bank of Baroda, 82 Bank Road,Coimbatore & the Dy.General Manager (CMR) ,Chennai to reduce the Business Hours to 5 hours and allow the internal processing for1 ½ hours to avoid any industrial unrest in the State.
We have forwarded a copy of this letter to all concerned as per list mentioned below
Thanking you,Sir
Yours faithfully
(N Sachidanandam)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Cc: The Deputy General Manager, Bank of Baroda, Chennai Metro Region
90 C P Ramaswamy Road :: Chennai 18
cc: The Deputy General Manager, Bank of Baroda, Tamilnadu Region,
82 Bank Road, Coimbatore 18
Cc: All Branch Managers – as per above list.