CIRCULAR NO. 27/55/2014/11 4th
March , 2014
Dear
Comrades,
Bipartite
Talks with IBA on our wage revision demands
We reproduce herein
the text of UFBU Circular dt. 3-3-2014 on the outcome of the discussions with
IBA held yesterday.
“ As informed in
our earlier Circular No. 20 dt. 19-2-2014, another round of negotiations on our
wage revision demands was held in Mumbai today between UFBU and IBA. IBA’s team was led by its Negotiating
Committee Chairman Mr. T M Bhasin while UFBU was represented by all the
constituent unions.
Opening up the
discussions, Mr Bhasin said that looking to the present performance and
earnings of the Banks and the financial constraints faced by the Banks, it
would not be possible for them to further improve their earlier offer of 10%
increase over the cost of payslip components.
From UFBU we stoutly contested their contention and pointed out that
Banks have adequate profitability and hence the offer of IBA needs to be
substantially increased upwards as their offer of 10% is totally unacceptable
to the Unions and already rejected as inadequate. We also drew their attention
to the wage accords reached recently in few other sectors as well as the
Government’s mind as reflected in their reference to the 7th Pay
Commission.
The IBA stated that
they would be able to negotiate further on our demands or improve their offer
only if the UFBU would specify its expectations or if any counter offer is
given by the UFBU in response to their offer of 10%. From the side of UFBU, we explained that our
expectations or counter offer can be spelt out only if we know the response of
the IBA to our various important issues raised by the UFBU viz. introduction of
5 Days Banking, defined working hours for officers, improvements in pension
scheme like periodical updation, uniform DA rate for all pensioners, revision
in Family Pension formula, switching over from New Pension Scheme to Defined
Benefit pension scheme for the new recruits from 2010, 100% reimbursement of
entire hospitalisation expenses of the employees/ officers/ family members,
housing facilities for all employees and officers, etc.
The IBA informed us
that they would be able to react or respond only after all these issues are
discussed by them internally and also in consultation with the Finance Ministry
whom they would be meeting on the 5th instant. Hence IBA stated that they would come back to
us on these issues in the next round of meeting which they would be convening
shortly. We have suggested that the next
round of meeting should be held within the next 7/10 days to which IBA has
agreed.
During today’s
meeting, we also urged upon the IBA to expedite the compassionate appointment
scheme and IBA informed us that they are very much seized of the issue and
would endeavor to speed up the issue with the Government.
Comrades, it would
be seen that the negotiations are entering the crucial stage and hence it is
very much necessary to maintain our unity, cohesion and preparedness to respond
to the call of the UFBU as may be warranted.
Sd. M V Murali, Convener”
With greetings
Yours
Comradely,
C.H.
VENKATACHALAM
GENERAL
SECRETARY