BIPARTITE TALKS WITH IBA
Another round of
bipartite discussions was held today in Mumbai between IBA and UFBU on our
demands for wage revision. IBA was
represented by its Core Committee led by Shri R K Dubey, CMD, Canara Bank and
UFBU was represented by all the Nine Constituent Unions.
D.A. Formula:
Revision of Dearness Allowance formula has been discussed at length
since the CPI points under 1960-series are no longer compiled and published and
the DA payable is being arrived at after duly converting the Consumer Price
Index (CPI) points compiled under 2001-series.
UFBU has impressed upon the need to switch over to CPI 2001-series for
payment of DA and revision of DA on monthly basis. IBA said that they have to examine the matter
in detail before responding.
Reimbursement of Hospitalisation Expenses: Management wanted to know the response of the
UFBU on introduction of Medical Insurance Scheme. UFBU constituents after elaborate discussions
among the unions decided to have improvements in the present scheme and have it
in-house rather than switching over to insurance especially in view of the
difficulties faced wherever the insurance scheme is in operation. Hence, UFBU conveyed to IBA its
disinclination towards introduction of Medical Insurance Scheme in place of the
existing scheme for Reimbursement of Hospitalisation Expenses. However, the IBA suggested that whatever
difficulties that are being envisaged could be discussed and sorted out and
requested UFBU to reconsider its viewpoints.
Compassionate Appointments: UFBU sought to know the developments in
regard to Compassionate Appointments, since a long time has elapsed after
sending recommendations of IBA on the Scheme to the Ministry of Finance,
Government of India. IBA informed that
the matter is still pending with the Government. UFBU exhorted upon the need to finalise the
matter immediately as it has been lingering on for many years without any
resolution.
Superannuation Cost:
UFBU demanded that the cost on superannuation and welfare measures
should not be included in the cost of wage revision. IBA said that they would examine the matter.
Five-day Week: UFBU has insisted for introduction of
5-day week in the banking industry for the reason that after introduction of
technology, various alternate channels like ATMs, Net Banking, etc. are widely
available and being utilized by the customers, and hence, it would not cause
any inconvenience. Besides it is a
common and growing phenomenon globally to have 5-day week to ensure better
quality of life. IBA assured to examine
the matter.
Introduction of concepts of Cost-to-Company (CTC) and
Variable Pay: UFBU has conveyed unequivocally its
opposition for the introduction of concepts of CTC and Variable Pay in the
banking industry.
Wage revision of officers: Responding to the earlier stand taken by IBA
to restrict negotiations in case of officers from Scale-I to Scale-III alone
excluding officers from Scale-IV to VII, UFBU demanded that the negotiations
should be held with the negotiating unions on wages and service conditions of
all officers from Scale-I to Scale-VII as hitherto especially in view of the
service conditions being common for all the categories and also to ensure
relativity between the Scales.
Directions to work on Holidays declared under N.I. Act: Most of the holidays declared for festivals
in various States under N.I. Act differ from State to State resulting in most
of the festivals days would happened to be a working day in one State or the
other. After introduction of Cheque
Truncation System (CTS) on grid basis, since there is no common holiday in the
respective States connected under any grid, bank employees and officers are
forced to work on festival days foregoing the holiday as well as the
traditional rituals to be performed on those festival days adversely affecting
their sentiments and social obligations.
UFBU exhorted the need to delink the operations of CTS of a particular
State from the Grid on the day in which it is declared a holiday under N.I. Act
to enable the employees to follow their customs and perform the rituals as per
their religions.
Similarly, on other
holidays/Sundays, the Banks are directed to keep open their branches quoting
the reason of continuous holidays or for accepting the Government challans/Tax
payments. UFBU impressed upon IBA that in
the present technological environment, with the availability of alternate
channels like ATMs, Net Banking, etc. the necessity to keep open branches on
holidays is obviated. Besides, it is
becoming unproductive as the business that is being transacted is too low in
relation to the expenditure being incurred by banks to work on a holiday.
IBA has appreciated
the difficulties of the employees and officers and the reasons adduced by UFBU
and assured to take up the matter with the authorities concerned.
Wage Revision and Increase in Wages: UFBU wanted to know the response of IBA on
the wage load and the offer of IBA on wage increase. IBA expressed its inability to respond in
the absence of mandate from the authorities concerned. UFBU expressed its concern in not holding the
meetings on regular basis at frequent intervals and undue delay in the process
of wage negotiations. UFBU expressed its
dissatisfaction and insisted for expeditious wage settlement.
Comrades, since
there is no satisfactory progress towards revision of wages and it is unduly
delayed, the Constituents of UFBU decided to exhibit their
dissatisfaction. UFBU has, accordingly,
decided to express its dissatisfaction by conducting demonstrations throughout
the country in all State Capitals and other Major Centres on 22nd October 2013 demanding expeditious wage settlement. We request all our units/members to conduct
massive demonstrations at all these Centre and make it a thunderous success.
We also exhort upon
our units and members to be in readiness for further agitations, including
strike if need be, if there is no positive and expeditious response from the
Government/IBA to settle the 10th Bipartite Wage Settlement at the
earliest.
M VMurali Convenor