(AIBEA-AIBOC-NCBE-AIBOA-BEFI-INBEF-INBOC-NOBW-NOBO)
Linghi Chetty Street Chennai – 600 001
Tel. No. : 044-2535 1522, 6543 1566, Fax : 044-2535 8853, 4500 2191
E Mail: chv.aibea@gmail.com
Press Release :- 20-5-2011
By C.H.Venkatachalam, Convener, UFBU
ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE ON 7TH JULY, 2011
BY 10 LACS BANK EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS
v TO FIGHT BACK INCREASING ATTACKS ON BANKING SECTOR AND BANK EMPLOYEES/OFFICERS
v TO RESIST RETROGRADE BANKING REFORMS
v TO REPULSE ATTACKS ON JOBS AND JOB SECURITY
v TO OPPOSE KHANDELWAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
v TO DEMAND RESOLUTION OF PENDING ISSUES
A National Convention was held today in New Delhi under the banner of UFBU which consists of all the 9 bank trade unions in our country. The Convention has adopted a Declaration outlining the various important issues confronting the banking sector and banking staff and giving a call for all India agitational programmes and to observe an all India Bank Strike on 7th July, 2011. The strike will be participated by 10 lacs of bank employees and officers working in Public Sector Banks, private Banks, Foreign Banks, Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks.
The Convention was attended by 600 leaders of bank unions from all over the country. From the Central Trade unions, Dr. Sanjiva Reddy (INTUC), Com. Puruhit (HMS), Com. B N Rai (BMS), and Com. Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC), Com. A K Padmnanabhan (CITU) participated in the Convention and extended their full support to the struggles of the bank employees unions.
The Declaration is enclosed herewith.
C.H.VENKATACHALAM
CONVENER
____________________________________________________________
UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS
( AIBEA – AIBOC – NCBE – AIBOA – BEFI – INBEF – INBOC – NOBW – NOBO )
NATIONAL CONVENTION
AT NEW DELHI ON 20TH MAY 2011
DECLARATION
ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE: ON 7TH JULY, 2011.
This National Convention of trade unions of bank employees and bank officers under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions and representing near total of employees and officers of the Indian Banking Industry notes with serious concern the various financial policies of the Government which are detrimental to the interest of the banking sector, public interest, banking staff and their rights and benefits.
In the name of banking sector reforms, the Government is attempting to reduce their share of Equity Capital in the Public Sector Banks thereby increasing the hold of private capital in these Banks. Recently the Government has availed loan from World Bank in order to capitalise the Banks and thus bringing the conditionalities of the World Bank over the performance and functioning of our Banks. The Government is also pursuing their policy of consolidation and merger of Public Sector Banks which are totally unwarranted and would in no way benefit to strengthen our Banks. Similarly, the Government is also encouraging more FDI in the Banks, particularly in the Private Sector Banks and has introduced a Banking Regulation Act Amendment Bill in the Parliament for removing the existing ceiling on voting rights of the foreign investors.
The Government has also announced its decisions to formulate new banking licensing policy to enable Industrial houses to start Banks. Even on issues like outsourcing the permanent and perennial jobs, the managements are pursuing reckless policy of Outsourcing various jobs and services. To compound the problem, Banks are appointing private Business Correspondents and Business facilitators which is nothing but privatizing the banking jobs and services.
The Convention notes with serious concern the retrograde proposals of the Khandelwal Committee like dismantling industry-level wage settlement, introduction of Fixed / Variable Pay for employees, freehand to transfer employees, freedom to outsource all permanent bank jobs, etc. and rejects the Report and demands its withdrawal.
On issues concerning the employees and officers, important issues are being glossed over. The revised scheme on compassionate ground Appointment/Financial Compensation to the family of deceased employees stood resolved between IBA and UFBU long back but till today it has not been approved by the Government and allowed for implementation. When better customer service is the cry of the day, adequate employees and officers are not being provided at the Branches. There is dire need to resort to massive recruitments and revival of BSRB for undertaking this process as against the existing private agency. The demand for improvements in pension scheme on the lines of the Government Scheme like updation of pension, 100% DA neutralisation on Pension, improvement in commutation, family pension, ex-gratia for pre-1986 retirees, etc. are most genuine issues but not being attended to by the Government. Introduction of 5 day week, regulated and defined working hours for Officers, etc. are also very important issues that need to be resolved expeditiously. On the other hand, Government has given instructions that no service conditions of the employees in the Banks should be improved upon without their specific approval.
All these have created a situation of total unrest amongst the employees and officers of the banking sector.
This Convention, after careful deliberations and consideration, has come to the unanimous conclusion that, all out efforts should be taken by the UFBU to fight back the increasing attacks on the banking sector and on the bank employees and officers and build up programs, agitation to repulse these attacks.
The Convention, accordingly, gives the following action programs:
1. Submission of Mass Memorandum to Bank managements by all our unions.
2. Deputation to CMDs of Banks by UFBU Constituents in each bank.
3. Mass Demonstrations before Banks throughout the Country on a day to be decided locally(Between 20-25th June, 2011).
4. Badge-wearing on 30.06.2011.
5. Mass Rallies in major cities and towns on 4.7.2011.
6. All India Bank Strike on 7.7.2011.
7. Further agitations and Strike actions to be announced thereafter.
The Convention calls upon all Unions of UFBU and their members throughout the Country to rise as one man and implement the programmes and strike action effectively.
The UFBU appeals to all the Central Trade Unions to extend their full support to our agitational programmes.
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