New Delhi: In a big relief for the common man and business, the bank employees have decided to defer their three-day strike in the second week of the next month.
Both the officers and employee unions decided to call off the strike as Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) raised the offer to increase the wage-salary cost from earlier proposal of 12.5% to 15%.
In view of the positive developments all our agitational programmes stands deferred, said the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) in a joint statement.
"After a lot of discussions, the following points emerged today: offer on payslip cost increased to 15% and our demand on five day banking will be taken forward for further discussion,” said the UFBU in a joint statement.
The proposed three-day banking strike, that was to begin from March 11 was expected to hit the banking operations for six days, from March 10 to March 15.
However, following the talks between nine employee unions and officer associations, and the IBA, the bank employees and officers decided to call off their strike.
“In view of these positive developments, our agitational actions, including the ensuing 3 days strike beginning from March 11, 2020 stands deferred", United Forum Bank Unions (UFBU) said in the statement, a copy of which was reviewed by ETV Bharat.
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The proposed strike was planned in a way to have the maximum impact on the government as the banks will remain close on March 14 and 15 on account of second Saturday and Sunday. And they will also be closed on March 10 on account of festival Holi, impacting the banking operations for six consecutive days.
In order to press for early settlement of wage revision negotiation, bank staff has observed a two-day strike on January 31 and February 1 to coincide with the presentation of Union Budget.
The revision of salary and wages in the banking sector has been pending since November 2017 but the IBA and unions could not agree on the quantum of hike that has stalled a settlement.
"Forty-eight rounds of discussions have been held with the IBA but it is still pending," said Ashwani Rana, General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Bank Worker's Organisation.
(Article by Senior Journalist Krishnanand Tripathi)
