Arun Jaitley asks bank employee unions to withdraw strike call-LiveMint 22.02.2015
Jaitley says banks are already in negotiations with their unions and associations for wage settlement
New Delhi: Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday appealed to bank employee unions to call off their proposed four-day nationwide strike from 25 February as talks are on for a revision of wages of employees.
The finance minister said banks are already in negotiations with their unions and associations for wage settlement and “the bipartite negotiations in a cordial manner is the only available tool for settlement”.
Public sector bank employee unions have given a call to go on a country-wide strike from 25 February to press for their wage-related demands.
In a statement, Jaitley appealed to all employees of public sector banks and their unions and associations not to resort to agitation approach by participating in a strike and “call off the call for strike”. He said participating in the proposed strike is neither desirable nor affordable in the interest of the nation.
Earlier, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) convener M.V. Murali had said banks already had incorporated wage increase of 15% into their accounting but their offering is 13% only. “This is not acceptable to employees who have been fulfilling all obligations, including making Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana a runaway success. This was accepted by the Prime Minister. Therefore, we have decided to stick to our strike call till our demands are met,” Murali had said.
Ashwini Rana, general secretary of National Organisation of Bank Workers, said bank employee unions have unanimously decided to go on a four-day strike from 25 February. Many banks, including Bank of Baroda and Corporation Bank have already informed about the likely inconvenience to customers if strike materializes.
PSU Bank Unions Warn of 4-Day Nation-Wide Strike-NDTV
New Delhi: Public sector bank employee unions have warned of going on a four-day nation-wide strike beginning February 25 to press for wage-related demands.
"Banks have been providing for a 15 per cent wage hike since November 2012. Thus, banks already have incorporated wage increase of 15 per cent into their accounting but their offering is 13 per cent only."
"This is not acceptable to employees who have been fulfilling all obligations including making Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana a runaway success. This was accepted by the Prime Minister. Therefore, we have decided to stick to our strike call till our demands are met," United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) convener M V Murali told PTI.
Ashwini Rana, general secretary of National Organisation of Bank Workers, said bank employee unions have unanimously decided to go on a four-day strike from February 25 to 28.
Many banks including Bank of Baroda and Corporation Bank have already informed about the likely inconvenience to customers if the strike materialises.
In a filing to the BSE, Corporation Bank said it has received a notice from the convener of UFBU consisting of nine National level unions - AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW, AIBOC, AIBOA, INBOC and NOBO - informing the decision to go on for a four-day nation-wide strike from February 25 to 28 in support of their demands.
"A major section of the Bank's employees/officers belonging to the workmen unions/officers' association having allegiance to the above national level unions/organisations, may take part in the proposed 4 days strike from February 25, 2015 to February 28, 2015 and indefinite strike from March 16, 2015, if the strike materialises."
"In view of the above, it is likely that the normal functioning of our Branches and offices may get affected during the days the union has given the strike call," it said.
Earlier this month, Indian Banks' Association (IBA) had bettered its offer from 12.5 per cent to 13 per cent against unions' demand of 19 per cent hike in wages.
"On suggestion of Chief Labour Commissioner, IBA agreed to hold negotiations with UFBU on February 23. In the meantime strike stands," All India Bank Employees Association general secretary C H Venkatachalam said.
If strike happens it would impact government fund transfer during the time of Budget.
The Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to start from February 23.
Wage revision of public sector bank employees has been due since November 2012.
Earlier, unions had deferred one-day strike scheduled for January 7 as IBA improved the wage hike offer to 12.5 per cent from 11 per cent earlier.
Following this, unions also deferred the proposed four-day strike from January 21 after the management of banks (IBA) assured that wage-related issues would be resolved by early February.
To press for their demand, the bank unions had gone on four-day rotational strike between December 2 and December 5.
There are 27 public sector banks in the country with a combined employee strength of about 8 lakh. There are about 50,000 branches of these lenders across the country
Sri Kamlesh Chaturvediwrites on Faceboook
"Banks have been providing for a 15 per cent wage hike since November 2012. Thus, banks already have incorporated wage increase of 15 per cent into their accounting but their offering is 13 per cent only."
"This is not acceptable to employees who have been fulfilling all obligations including making Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana a runaway success. This was accepted by the Prime Minister. Therefore, we have decided to stick to our strike call till our demands are met," United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) convener M V Murali told PTI.
Ashwini Rana, general secretary of National Organisation of Bank Workers, said bank employee unions have unanimously decided to go on a four-day strike from February 25 to 28.
Many banks including Bank of Baroda and Corporation Bank have already informed about the likely inconvenience to customers if the strike materialises.
In a filing to the BSE, Corporation Bank said it has received a notice from the convener of UFBU consisting of nine National level unions - AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW, AIBOC, AIBOA, INBOC and NOBO - informing the decision to go on for a four-day nation-wide strike from February 25 to 28 in support of their demands.
"A major section of the Bank's employees/officers belonging to the workmen unions/officers' association having allegiance to the above national level unions/organisations, may take part in the proposed 4 days strike from February 25, 2015 to February 28, 2015 and indefinite strike from March 16, 2015, if the strike materialises."
"In view of the above, it is likely that the normal functioning of our Branches and offices may get affected during the days the union has given the strike call," it said.
Earlier this month, Indian Banks' Association (IBA) had bettered its offer from 12.5 per cent to 13 per cent against unions' demand of 19 per cent hike in wages.
"On suggestion of Chief Labour Commissioner, IBA agreed to hold negotiations with UFBU on February 23. In the meantime strike stands," All India Bank Employees Association general secretary C H Venkatachalam said.
If strike happens it would impact government fund transfer during the time of Budget.
The Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to start from February 23.
Wage revision of public sector bank employees has been due since November 2012.
Earlier, unions had deferred one-day strike scheduled for January 7 as IBA improved the wage hike offer to 12.5 per cent from 11 per cent earlier.
Following this, unions also deferred the proposed four-day strike from January 21 after the management of banks (IBA) assured that wage-related issues would be resolved by early February.
To press for their demand, the bank unions had gone on four-day rotational strike between December 2 and December 5.
There are 27 public sector banks in the country with a combined employee strength of about 8 lakh. There are about 50,000 branches of these lenders across the country
Sri Kamlesh Chaturvediwrites on Faceboook
Our Finance Minister Sri Arun Jaitly has made appealed to us not to resort to agitation approach y joining bank strike. He has informed us that Banks are already in negotiations with our Unions and Associations for wage settlement. He has told us that Bipartite negotiations in cordial manner is only available tool for settlement. He has appealed to call off the Strike in the interest of nation.
Respected Jaitly ji, are you not aware that the only tool referred by you is bein...g used since long. Our Wage Settlement is due since November 1st, 2012. Sir are you aware that a Clerk in Bank gets lesser Salary than Peon of your Government and that a Bank Officer gets less Salary than Clerk of your Government?
Respected Jaitly ji, are you not aware that the only tool referred by you is bein...g used since long. Our Wage Settlement is due since November 1st, 2012. Sir are you aware that a Clerk in Bank gets lesser Salary than Peon of your Government and that a Bank Officer gets less Salary than Clerk of your Government?
We think that while making an appeal you must have referred this truth in your press statement and at least you must have assured that your Government is keen to remove this disparity.
P.M/Mr Jaitly should atleast ensure pay/pension parity to bank men to avert four days strike
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