Bank unions call for two days nationwide strike from Jan 31

The United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU) has decided to observe two days strike on January 31 and February 1, demanding the wage board revision, revising their pay-hikes, pension percentage and facilitating the old pension schemes to the employees who have joined after 2010.

New Delhi: After the failed negotiations with the Indian Banks Association (IBA), the bank employee unions on Monday have decided they will precede with their two days strike on January 31 and February 1.

The United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU) has been demanding the wage board revision, revising their pay-hikes, pension percentage and facilitating the old pension schemes to the employees who have joined after 2010. However, the Union Government is yet to fulfill its demands.

All India Bank Employees Union, General Secretary, CH Venkatachalam said that the UFBU has three days strike on March 11,12 and 13, demanding early wage revision settlement which has been due since November 1, 2017.

While speaking to media, he said, " As we had announced the strike, the Union Government called for a peace-making meeting. While we said our demands, the government representatives did not agree. Instead of fulfilling our demands, they asked us to withdraw our strike. So, we decided to continue the strike as our demands were not accepted. "

"The government has to give the pay hike for bank employees once in five years. As the last pay hike agreement was ending in October 2017, the government was supposed to renew the agreement in November 2017, " he added.

The bank unions have proposed strike demanding to expedite the process of wage settlement due since November 2017.

He further added, "We have given the request in May 2017. After 30 months, they just come forward to give just a 12.25% hike. The prices are soaring and the work burden has increased too many folds. We asked for the updation of pension, hike in family pension, income tax exemption on retiral benefits without any ceiling, uniform definition of business hours. But, the banks are not ready to accept our demands.”

According to Venkatachalam, around 10 lakh bank employees, associated with the PSBs, and private banks will take part in the strike.

United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) constitutes of 9 bank unions -- All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).