Jantar-Manter: 4th Feb Dharna AIBOC

Jantar-Manter:
4th Feb Dharna AIBOC
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( Open Comment by Sri J N Shukla)

According to Saumya Dutta, General Secretary, AIBOC there are 'Critical issues' against which bank officers are confronted with. He told, 20000 officers from across the country are participating in Dharna. He briefed media on critical issues as under:

First, he said, he is against the amalgmation of BOB, Dena Bank & Vijaya Bank. He termed it retrograde that amounts to reverse nationalization. It's intention is to reduce public sector banking space. He alleged, govt wants to privatise banks and hand over to crony capitalists like Ambanis, Ambanis.

Second, he wants descent wage revision as per Charter Of Demands, which is based on principle of minimum wage and as per Central Govt wage structure, since Bank officers are implementing all govt schemes. He demands, like in past, mandate for wage revision should cover uptown scale-7. Five Banks, which gave partial mandate upto Scale-3 should be directed to give unto scale-7.

Third, he wants willful defaulters list published. He told, he has written a letter to Mr. Arun Jaitley asking him to publish willful defaulters names, which he is hiding. He alleged, hundreds of such defaulters have had fled from the country.

Fourth, he wants Pension/ Family Pension Revision, which is pittance and not revised for last 20-25 years. Pointing towards thousands of young male- female officers assembled over there under NPS he said that they dont know exactly what will they get after 40 years of their job.

NOW, let us analyze above 4 statements:

1. Had this amalgmation been with SBI, whether Mr. Dutta would have taken this issue at this scale?

If he says yes, then next question to him would be as to why he didn't agitate against first two and subsequent 5 Associate Banks amalgmation with SBI?

Why he didn't agitate on Mahila Bank transformation?

In said amalgmations, didn't he find as retrograde or reverse nationalization or reduction of Public Sector Banks space? How the amalgmation or consolidation could be termed as privatization or seen as a plan to handover the banks to Ambanis/Adanis?

Is it not mere rhetoric of olden days Tatas/Birlas/Dalmias?

In past many banks were saved by merging in PSBs and so far none of the PSBs have been been doled out to any Capitalists. Double speak needs no explanation or justification as it brings with itself it's own testimony.

2. Yes, his point is right to have complete mandate and settlement of demands as made in Charter of Demands. Here, minimum wage as per law is not a issue. Issue is 'comparative' wage, as per central govt scales as 'according to Mr. Dutta' officers are implementing all govt schemes.

 Here, notable fact is that govt pay scales are decided by Pay Commission. So, in plain words Mr. Dutta was found arguing for Pay Commission like some constitutional platform to decide wages & service conditions of Bank officers. He knows well, Pillai Committee was appointed in past within the constitutional provisions. He should have demanded 'Committee' directly, instead wasting precious time in several twists & turns.

In Negotiated settlement issues can be settled through bargain based on 'paying capacity', 'affordability', 'load factor'. These 'formulas' were invented and agreed to by Unions. Now, settlements, reached through these formulas, are termed stale, soar and rotten. Better, people at the helm of affairs should own their faults, totally unsafe of fatal impacts on entire banking fraternity.

3. With regard to defaulters list, this is being made a issue for long. But, is it possible in existing laws?

RBI & Govt., both, have taken constitutional position into consideration and have disagreed to it. Anyway, it's made out issue, to which unions or Bank employees have nothing to do or gain.

If the list is published, will the unions file FIRs/ recovery civil suits against defaulters?

 If they want to start a movement to focus on defaulters, no problem, direct your base Unions to do it, as all accounts of defaulters are maintained ultimately in some Branch of Bank, irrespective of sanction level. I think it's not the issue.

So, it's just rhetorical issue, hardly hold any relevance to employees wellness.

4. In Pension/Family Pension revision matter, his concern was of some substance, but the question remains that when it is bilateral issue can be looked into between the parties, then how Mr. Dutta would be able to help in this issue, if he continues bycotting sittings and heads towards Committe?

Notable fact is that during last settlement such categorical statement was give by Gen. Secretary, AIBEA, but ultimately nothing happened. Mr. Dutta should have thrown light on then difficulties and brought to focus as to opposed that. Bank Pensioners are yet to know as to who was villain to sabotage Pension Revision last time. All were tight lipped. Visibly, they all signed Joint Notes on 25.5.2015- a death warrant of the sort.

Pensioners know, what they are. They know, their pension pittance, financial distress and plights on account of no Pension Revision. They know, its bilateral issue. They know, thousands had died in quest of pension revision. They know, they are tired, old, bent, left in lurch by their own parent Unions, anyway surviving & counting days, while inching towards finality. They know, they worked & retired gracefully, obeyed Unions first and then the management. At all, if they dont know, they really dont know their faults and the culprits & villains who killed their rights & privilege to have revised Pension and not as bounty.

Mr. Dutta, pensioners look beyond words of assurance. Your words are taken just as rolling stones, which have no count. Why today you are very categorical, Pensioners know well. Anyway, under dead darkness of tunnel a ray is of some indication, we hold your words as very important, in right earnest and await your immediate return to table.

-J. N. Shukla,
Prayagraj,
6the Feb.19