Why Young Bank Staff Are On Agitation

It is true that any agitation programme undertaken by any union or any group apart from UFBU which is an authorised body to negotiate with IBA on the issue of wage revision of bank staff indicates appearance of some hair cracks in unity of bank staffs . But the way  UFBU has been casual and ineffective during last almost two years, the young bankers are genuinely and rightly very much annoyed and losing their patience on inordinate delay in wage revision. I hope unity of UFBU will continue .

But the Agitation scheduled on Jantar Mantar on 13th of September 2014 i.e. Tomorrow will surely awaken leaders of UFBU  from their deep slumber. It is really perturbing to all bank staff  that top leaders of UFBU neither make any fruitful and visible efforts for early settlement nor do they think it wise and necessary to keep their members abreast of latest development in talks and to inform their members as to why there is so much  delay in wage agreement and why IBA is so much indifferent on wage talk. They do not think it necessary to collect views of members or to explain reasoning behind such abnormal delay in wage agreement which is due since November 2012.

They (leaders of top rank associated with UFBU ) are not even sensitized by actions and reaction appearing on various social networking sites. They do not bother even if members of various ingredient unions of UFBU write letters to them . They do not bother even if their members resign from bank in anger or due to low wages or commit suicide under work pressure or unjustified punitive action taken by their management on flimsy ground. They do not bother even if bank collapses under unbearable pressure of bad debts. They bother only their friendship with top officials of their banks and good relations with CMDs of banks or members of IBA to possibly serve some other interest.

I will not be an exaggeration or over stating that majority of CMDs of banks are corrupt only because they keep top union leaders happy in all aspect sacrificing the interest banks as well as that of common bank staff. It is not only isolated case of CMD of Syndicate Bank, but there are several such cases which are still hidden and unexposed.

I am therefore of strong view that agitation at Jantar Mantar will not only open the eyes of leaders of UFBU but also that of IBA members and Government of India. I hope all members of all banks will extend support to Delhi Chalo Abhiyan so that wage talk is at least taken seriously by IBA and GOI.


I therefore like to make an appeal to all bank staff who are posted in Delhi or in adjacent areas or who can reach Delhi Jantar Mantar that they must attend the rally at Jantar Mantar to make it a grand success. All others who are not in a position to attend Delhi must extend their whole hearted moral support to it so that a crystal clear message is sent to IBA, GOI, all politicians and top officials of GOI that bank staff can do agitation like political agitation if they like to do so.

Bank staff can disturb functioning of banks and other offices if they are compelled to do so. A good initiative should not be allowed to flop anyway. If the agitation succeeds in its motto even to little extent , it will have great impact on attitude of IBA and GOI and it  will also disturb the sleeping leaders of UFBU.



I however hope that Unity will be maintained by young brigade of bank staff at all cost. Unity is strength. GOI will try to divide unity to puncture the movement for early wage hike but bank staff should be cautious in public speaking and avoid abusing leaders while criticizing the ineffectiveness of their leaders.  Will it be advisable to staff to go on surprise casual leave on 13th September or is it desirable to avail CL on 13th who live by those staff who live outside Delhi and who are not in a position to attend Jantar Mantar Delhi but who have all good wishes for the success of rally at Jantar Mantar Delhi on 13th of September 2014 .
Use SMS or Whatsapp or Facebook or forward my blog to all your friends in all banks to convey this message to as many staff as possible to make the agitation a grand success.
http://importantbankingnews2.blogspot.in/2014/09/why-young-bank-staff-are-on-agitation.html You may read other blogs on the issue of Wage revision by clicking on following links

Chalo Delhi Jantar Mantar

Demand of 25% hike is Justified


Progrss In Wage Talk between IBA and UFBU

Kamlesh Chaturvedi Writes on Facebook

Bipartite Failed , No Hope Wait till 2015





I had written a letter on similar lines for similar course of action in August 2013 and earlier too .I reproduce my letter/blog dated 13th August 2013

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Progress In Bipartite Settlement For Bank Staff

Leaders of United Front of Bank Unions (UBFU) and that of Indian Banks Association (IBA ) had a meeting on 12^th of August 2013 on the issues raised by union leaders which includes wage hike too and which will take the shape of Xth Bipartite Settlement.

Outcome of said meeting as informed by trade union leaders is that IBA has accepted that wage revision will be effective from November 2012 and the DA merger will be at November 2011.It is not at all the decision on incrrease in wages.

Is it an achievement?

 Is it a step forward for wage revision after lapse of almost a year from when it become due or from the date Charter of demand was submitted to IBA and government of India?

I am astonished that many staff are treating the said outcome of talk with IBA as an achievement and are celebrating the same. Some brilliant employees have even prepared the chart of modified pay structure keeping in view the DA merger, prepared various charts for different percentage of hike in load to be accepted by IBA and even started calculating probable hike in wages and probable amount of arrears to be received.

I salute those who have presented various probability of pay rise in a nice way and  for keeping their colleagues abreast of what is going to happen in pay rise at various rate of hike percentages to be accepted by GOI and IBA. After all it is only presentation of pay structure at various probable rises.It is simply an imagination and prediction of probable wage hike. It does not indicate the attitude , approach and real intention of IBA .

It is known to all that IBA was bound to sanction revision in wages with retrospective effect i.e. from 1st of November 2011 as per IX bipartite settlement signed by them only .IBA as well as UFBU are duty bound to respect their own commitment made in last settlement. Moreover, It is the tradition in banks that in every bipartite settlement signed by Union and IBA in the past, they define its validity and clearly incorporate in every settlement that they will reconsider further wage revision from or after a specified date. 

As such there was no need to waste time on finalizing the effective date of Xth Bipartite Settlement. And union leaders were duty bound to submit their Charter of Demand to IBA at least three month before the expiry of last settlement i.e. in the month of July 2011 or August 2011 and they did so.

Similarly in every settlement DA is merged in Basic pay and new formula of DA is fixed as per change in Consumer prize Index. There should not be any hitch or any dispute on how many slabs have to be merged with old basic pay while arriving at new Basic pay .Normally it is assumed that DA equivalent to last quarter of expiry of last settlement is decided for merger. 

In this respect also union leaders failed to stick to their position and agreed for DA merger at a date which is one year older with respect to effective date of proposed bipartite settlement. 

Shameful  indeed. 

Therefore, the outcome of last talk is at least not at all encouraging and not at all fit for celebration. Rather it is to be taken as indicator of poor wage hike and delayed wage hike and hence it must be condemned by bank staff in one voice.It proves that union leaders as well as IBA officials are not serious on wage hike and they are willfully in nexus with each other delaying decision on flimsy ground or wasting time on non issues .

As a matter of fact it is absolutely disheartening to observe that even after lapse of almost a year IBA has not come out with their idea of sanctioning a wage hike?

They kept silent on how much increase in wage bill they are likely to accede to. Even union leaders did not build pressure or failed to concentrate on wage hike percentage.

Union leaders should ask one and only one line question to IBA ,” How much percentage of wage hike IBA and GOI  are agreeable to sanction and as Union Leaders , they should clearly tell to IBA how much hike is the aspiration of bank staff ?

Once hike in wage bill  is decided by IBA and Union leaders , they can define its mode of distribution in basic pay hike or increase in HRA or other amenities.

It is unfortunate and disheartening too that our own leaders are wasting time on insignificant issues and making Charter of Demand longer giving an opportunity to IBA to postpone the talk every time or wasting time on issues which are at present juncture are not much important. As of now bank staff are more concerned on how much wage hike they will be getting from IBA .They are least bothered on other issues like compensation on compassionate ground or hike in hospitalization bill or merger issues.

It is further painful and shameful that IBA has not even thought it fit to say when they are likely to sit for next round of talk. At least they could have indicated that they will call a meeting in a weak or in a fortnight. They do not give much importance to bank staff until there is uproar in Parliament or there is disturbance in Industrial Relation or when pain is caused to customers and common men of the country when bank staff decides for going on strike.

It gives frustration to common bank employees when their leaders lose and waste precious time on begging and getting next date from IBA for next round of talk. 

When it was a question of hike of salary of MP or central government employees, it is decided in one or two sittings. But it is fun that for bank staff they have already killed one year time in only deciding date of effect of next settlement.

I am therefore of strong opinion that IBA , GOI and Union leaders should focus on how much rise is possible and this should be decided in not more than a week and not more than two or three sittings should be allowed to take place for such a petty but important issue.

After all bank staff are as important as MPs and central government employees for keeping the economy of the country growing and for keeping the banks healthy. Rather it will not be exaggeration to say that if bank staff are not happy and not well motivated force, they may damage the quality of assets in frustration and consequently damage the economy of the entire country.

And when a decision has to be taken, when Xth Bipartite Settlement is inevitable, When hike is unavoidable, why GOI has a tendency always to defer the decision and cause resentment in working class. 

Why do they give chance to employees to resort to strikes and cause problems to common men?

Where our communist brothers are sleeping and why and how they fail to serve working class for which they are meant for?

If the delay in settlement goes beyond normal delay , it is the duty of every staff to build pressure first on their leaders and then on government and IBA. They should flood the office of PMO, IBA, FM and union leaders with petitions from every corner of the country, from every branch of every bank and from every employee.

I had drafted a petition ( Link given below) in this respect, bank employees may use the same , or modify the same or draft a new petition and send the same to all concerned to expedite wage settlement and to get a respectable wage hike without much delay.

Why Indefinite strike is now inevitable

Why Young Generation Bankers Are Agitating on 13th September?-

By Kamlesh Chaturvedi -


-Submitted By Sri Rajesh Goyal in website allbankingsolutions.com)

Comments by ABS : We have received the following write up about the forthcoming agitation programme mainly steered by young bankers from Kamlesh Caturvedi.  This views us an overview about the reasons as to why young generation of bankers are agitated with existing UFBU leadership.  Mr Chaturvedi is one of the most recognisable faces on social media that is taking up the cause of bankers.  The best part about him is that he is equally good in his write ups - both in Hindi and English.   Although, on few occasions his views appear to be radical but enjoy them and his jokes and antidotes in Hindi brings frequently smiles on my face.   Now we give below his views on the latest agitation and request the bankers to enjoy the movement and DELHI CHALO.

 

Young generation of bankers irrespective of Bank, Cadre and Union affiliation have decided to lead from the front and have decided to demonstrate and show their strength on 13^th September 2014 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi to protest against the number of Percentage game played by UFBU during the course of Negotiations for wage revision. These youngsters are agitating for equality which has been upheld by Sastry Tribunal long back and have demanded 

 

 

 

(1) Equality in wages at Par with Central Government Employees

(2)Equality in the matter of Pension and at Par with Central Government Employees

(3)Equality in number of working days in a week i.e. 5 Day working

 

A mass level propaganda has been launched across internet on facebook, whatsapp and other social media sites. There is overwhelming response from all over the country.

 

These youngsters have shown their resentment and dissatisfaction against retired leaders participating in negotiation process. Thus, 13^th September 2014 march to Jantar Mantar can be seen as beginning of new era in the trade union movement of Banking Industry. Till now top leaders have been complaining that new entrants are career minded and they seldom participate in trade union activities. Now if these youngsters assemble in thousands at Jantar Mantar on 13^th, it would mean that constituent unions of UFBU are facing a situation of revolt by youngsters who have been deprived to raise their voice and participate in trade union activities. Majority of these youngsters are even demanding end of  present era of Bipartite Settlement and demanding inclusion of Bank Employees in Pay Commission.

 

At a time when further round of talks are scheduled to be held on 17^th September after meeting of IBA officials with Secretary of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, resentment and dissatisfaction of youngsters irrespective of bank, cadre and union affiliation has put a question on basic objective of bringing industrial peace and harmony in banking industry. These youngsters are planning to raise the matter before Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), Government of India, Ministry of Labour handing over him resolution passed by them and demanding his intervention treating the dispute as dispute between workmen and workmen as defined under Section 2(k) of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947.

 

 

Top Leaders of the constituent Unions owe a duty towards these young bankers who are their members to come forward for either justifying and convincing them for what they are doing or else guiding and inspiring these youngsters by coming out of the negotiations process and demanding equality in the matter of pay, pension and number of days working and becoming instrumental in bringing about the revolutionary changes in the present day trade unions by introducing inner democracy of electing leaders through secret ballot irrespective of size of the Union, bringing transparency in the union and fixing accountability of elected leaders of the Union. 

               

 These youngsters have appealed each and every bank employees across the country to join them on 13^th at Jantar Mantar New Delhi and have requested those who are not able to come because of distance to wear black belt around their hand as mark of their support.