Why We Failed to Achieve What RBI Employees Achieved ?

दिल बहलाने के लिए, खयाल अच्छे हैं!

- In-service Bank Unions can achieve unachievables, if they make honest & sincere endeavors of the sort..

Ever since, Govt. cleared RBI pension updating,  a new wave of thought has emerged among Bank Pensioners: if RBI can, why not rest Banks?

It's a serous argument. This argument is similar to one that we have come across earlier: why not CPC wages to Bank emlloyees?

We are free to make any opinion, as it doesn't cost at all. It's our brain product.We are free from any assignment or engagement. In this state of situation: दिल बहलाने के लिए, खयाल अच्छे हैं.

Will you please agree that in RBI whatever result has come that's not on fight of retirees/pensioners. It is totally conceived, planned, executed by RBI in-service employees/officers Unions. Retirees were too taken on side by Unions.

Here in our case, main problem is with in-service Unions. They are not ready to do what RBI unions did in their case.

IBA is manned by top executives of different Banks from where top leaders come. But, these leaders failed to take on board any of executive of IBA.

In RBI, see Governor, Dy. Governors, Board they all supported updating.

Anyway, I appreciate activists, who have generated huge pressure at all level and now social media is perceived to be dreadful to which Unions are ill-matched. This is the opinion of a very top leader of operating unions. We are on right track. I know, govt is prepared, but demand, understandings etc are to be arrived at.. But, it's not right proposition. We need very serous thinking matching to seriousness of issue of our Pension Revision. Just casual and callous approach doest yield any relief, as had happened so far due to casual & callous approach of our in-service Unions under UFBU with regard to Pension updating. If we keep right opinion, atleast it helps us avoid undue pains and anxieties, which is most important to protect our health at our such age profile.

Hope, you very kindly agree that in RBI whatever result has come that's not on fight of retirees/pensioners of RBI. RBI in-service Unions didn't let down their former breathren. Pension updating was totally conceived, planned & executed by RBI in-service employees/officers Unions. Retirees were too taken on board by in-service Unions.

Here in our case, main problem is with in-service Unions. They never thought of retirees welfare. See, Welfare Fund assigned to every Bank and govt directive is to spend it judiciouslly on retirees/pensioners as well.

Welfare Committees in Banks consist of Union nominees as member to these Committees. Just look, how Welfare Fund is allocated to the sole benefit of in-service people. It's one example.

Our in-service Unions don't like Pensioners representatives to sit beside them in bilateral processes. They are not prepared to take a thread from what RBI unions did in their Pensioners issues. They led this movement, took along Pensioners Unions. Not only this, they took on board entire RBI set up, be it Governor, Dy. Governors, Board of Governors. They got Pension updating unanimously approved by all requisite forums and sent to Govt.

RBI is a statutory and autonomous body. Govt didn't grant permission. Matter went in Court, where govt reply was that if the demand of updating is agreed, it would give rise to similar demand in other PSBs, who are in financial difficulty. Court processes were not the end. In-service Unions intensified their move by taking a decision of two days mass casual leave. This sent a shock wave. Govt advised RBI to talk to Unions, take two month's time and submit to govt concrete proposal in the matter. RBI- Unions agreed to govt request.

In Feb last Unions again met RBI executives to remind the lapse of agreed time, yet issue is not resolve. This is the way to achieve, unachievable. Here in our matter, is there any sense or act of seriousness among in-service Unions or their leaders is a landmark question. For sure, nothing such as in RBI.

IBA is manned by top executives of different Banks from where top leaders of UFBU constituents come from. But, these leaders failed to take on board any of executives of IBA. They were never sincere or serious. They signed Joint Notes on 25.5.2015 and thereafter none, barring one, raised any voice in follow up of Joint Note.


There are over 50 demands on COD and pension is one, trailing behind. Just see the list! Issue is just 2/3, but expanded so large in number. Issue was 'Wage, Pension, Service conditions revision'. It covers all aspects. But no, still Union leaders treat employees & officers as fools and try to befool them in unambiguous term. Don't expand issues, expand your chest, raise your arms is the need, but its not visible at all.

Jain or other our friends, what can they do? We are useless and can do some Dharna, demonstrations, memorandums, shouting or can abuse in-service leaders, call them corrupt etc. That's all. Individually, everyone points others as wrong to make himself right. It's not fair of gentlemen.

Anyway, I appreciate Activists, who have generated huge pressure at all level through their ceaseless, seamless constant endeavors across whole spectrum, be it PM, FM, Cabinet Minister, State Governors, Lol/Rajya Sabha Speakers, MPs, Govt. Executives etc. Commendable work, hundred time better and best than Pensioners Unions. At the same time, they created horror on social media, which is perceived to be a dreadful threat to which in-service Unions are ill-matched, according to a very seasoned and top executive of Unions. It shows their desperation and breathlessness.

Here I can say, 'We are on right track'. I understand, by giving sanction to RBI pension updating, govt must have made up its mind to have similar demand coming for govt sanction from PSBs as well. Govt was against RBI updating, simply for similar demand emnating from PSBs who were in financial difficulty.

But, whether IBA & Unions come up and take unanimous decision and submit to govt for sanction is billion dollar question. So far, Fund issue is concerned, in my earlier post, I have dealt it in details and it's none of Unions concern, rather it's squarelly the regulatory obligation of Bankers. All depends on in-service Unions, they can achieve even unachievable, if they make honest & sincere endeavors of the sort.

-J. N. Shukla
Prayagraj
8.3.2019



Exactly 3 year back as of now, on 8th March, 2016, I wrote a mail to Shrimp SC Jain, Gen. Secretary, AIBRF, on then prevalent situations. What to say of any change, situations seem to have worsened beyond apprehensions. We haven't moved even a single inch. Post is little century, but readable.
                                                                                                                                      jagat.n.shukla@gmail.com
                                                                                                                               8.3.2016   
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Dear Shri Jain,

We have for reference your letter dated 1.3.16 addressed to Convenor, UFBU stressing upon the need to forge coordination between operating Unions and retirees one. You appear to be advancing an idea of the sort of a 'conclave' like the one held in July, 2013, at Chennai,  ignoring the game plan, ufbu had then, to remove the hurdle coming in their way from the side of retirees unions in wage negotiations. Please recall that it happened after DFS letter to IBA advising later to talk to retirees Unions in their matter, which IBA-UFBU, both, took as hurdle in their way and they both were of one point, not to allow retirees Unions on talk table. You appear to be ignoring the track record of operating Unions in regard to Pension Scheme, since it came in effect from 1993. What to say of improving/strengthening, they lost no chance to weaken it immediately in the next Bipartite Settlement by agreeing to a notional basic pay at 1616 point for Pension purpose. They shamelessly termed it as “aberration” in 2005 and corrected it by giving future effect. If in real sense it was an “aberration”, done without any malice & in innocence, it should have been rectified from the date it was caused to. This time again don’t you find how they have put the quantum of increase (Special Allowance) out of Pension purview? Don’t you know that in 2010, they signed an agreement discontinuing Old Pension Scheme and now they are demanding the same. New Pension Scheme, NPS, in Govt. was not a subject matter of agreement under any law of the land, so it was made applicable by GO/notification. The Bank Pension Scheme was based on agreement signed under law, but very conveniently it was altered in Govt Pension name. Sometime Unions should have dared to ensure updating of Bank Pension at par with Central Pension scheme, since our Pension Scheme was formulated on that basis, if st all they were to agree to NPS in Banking, but it didn't happen.

You are not a part to settlement dated 25.5.2015 and those who were,  are now deaf and dumb. Hardly, any effort is seen in the matter from signatories though more than 9 months have had passed. Not only this, last month Government of India advised all Chief Executives of Banks and IBA to start the process of next B/settlement. Most of the Unions have started the process of formulating their next demand, but none of them have the courage to say that the task of last wage pact is not yet over and Retirees Issues which figured in last charter of demand have not yet been proceeded with in terms of Joint Notes dated 25.5.2015. We don’t see any correspondence from your side too to draw the  attention of parties to JN towards unfinished/pending tasks as mentioned in Joint Notes. So, you and UFBU unions are on same page, in this regard.

You seem to be illuminating the most enlightened people with regard to ‘challenges’ of varying nature. Your disproportionate worry is uncalled for. Those are good for politics that people do, knowing that they are wrong. Banking deals with people’s money and Banks are bound to make sensible business by use of peoples’ money ensuring its safety, security and furtherance. What’s wrong with BBB or logical consolidation? Was it not a demand of Unions in later part of 1980s? Better, not to politicize Banking, but it did happen ever since nationalization and if you see what surfaced in last Pune Gyan Sangam, all Banks executives raised their voice on Government interference. It speaks of gravity of the situation that PM Modi had to make one simple reply that then onward they (Banks executives) would not receive any phone from PMO. You had worked in management and I think you might have the idea how and what type of people were on every Bank Board and how they were broking/booking their interests. Further, there is the  need of clarity on ownership pattern. There is no compromise on basic tenet of public ownership of Banking. It hardly make any sense whether the public ownership is 100% or 51% and this was why when the bill was moved in Parliament to dilute ownership to 51%, then leader Tarakda simply made a protest demonstration against the said amendment. 51% level of  dilution has not been achieved so far in any bank, but see the fun, whenever in any bank any dilution is done in piecemeal Union in respective Bank has been striking, much against the said permissible dilutions. It is just a play for fun.

Today due to NPA capital is the need and hope people would understand the need of public spending on food, fertilizers, fuels, rural employment, health, education leave a side infra needs. Without compromising public ownership ways and means are to be searched and in that process our people must have knowledge. In their ideology there is no need of sense, but banking is a business of sense. It’s impossible to eat the cake and have it too. If you want cheap credits, you need cheap deposits as well. Further, you can’t differentiate in defaulters as good and bad. They may be big or small defaulters, but, if RBI governor statement is given any credential, they are criminals and their act of not paying back Bank loans amount to “criminality”. People avail Bank credit at very cheap rate which they must return back as it is of someone’s deposit. Earlier Government spoiled the whole atmosphere and today Hon’ble SC had to question RBI as to what they have been doing. Don’t you feel that bulging NPA is not of this government. It is a legacy that world renowned economist and financial experts of earlier govt. had left as a garbage or baggage. Management is same, but new government & RBI attitude is very clear with regard to Bank NPA/defaulters/Balance sheets. There is very clear perceptional and directional change in them, as for them both it does not matter who the defaulters are. Message is clear to deal with defaulters firmly without any hitch.  Now we see even highest court of the land, SC, taking strong   exceptions in default matter. Don’t you see the panic in this circle and the man like Vijay Malya is fleeing like a sparrow and many corporate houses have started selling their companies to pay off Bank borrowings? Should I name them?

I do not know, where you see interest of employees hit negatively. Bank employees welfare is only in sound Banks and the steps being taken at different level like RBI, management of Banks, Government, Hon’ble Supreme Court level etc. are well considered and aimed at bringing perceptional change in Indian Banking system.

I understand your desperations. You find no way to proceed with. Yes, being retired, tired, aged, ailing, fragile Bank pensioners have no stamina as of ex-servicemen. You people have no political capital of any sort too. Even operating Unions have no such capital, except few bad coins, lost its currency among people long back. But, I don’t see it as the only reason not to carry on our task. Greater need is to assess your strength and use that in right way, rather looking to people who have no relevance in matter of their own cadre. Had they been good, they should have never weakened Pension Scheme, looking to its post retirement needs. Now average service life of bank employees is 34 years and of pensioners 20. These 20 years have accumulated health hazards and in today’s world, it is the money that matter most in health services. Post retirement needs are greater than working time, these high fly star people must have taken a note. For them there is paradise as they amassed huge money from broking of new settlement. They can fly, stay in star, dine, drink and what not sort of comfort and luxury. Ailment is not a matter for them as they have the privilege to spend any amount from Union fund.

I think we must try & gather and consolidate what we don’t have. It is political capital that your people first gather and consolidate to make your way to your destination of achieving some good for Bank Pensioners. You need not to pay any heed to what I averred if it increases your BP. Take it in light vein as we are in same boat with different way of taking the things.

You are knocking wrong doors.

Regards,

(J.N.SHUKLA)

Shri S.C.Jain,
General Secretary,
AIBRF, Indore (MP)
________________________________

*AIBRAF FLASH NEWS*

A three members delegation of AIBRAF office bearers met the Senior Advisor of IBA Sri S K Kakkar at Mumbai Head Quarter today.
The delegation was led by Sri Harihar Sinha along with two senior activists Shri Ashok Khairnar from Nasik and Sri B K Singh of Mumbai.
The delegation handed over a memorandum along with three enclosures the  copies of which are placed for members information  containing full detailed chart of bank's pension funds as well.

Full length discussion held and delegation members were very anxious about further course of action of IBA.
Mr Kakkar categorically stated that updation is on cards and IBA has clear stand on its Chairman's version.

Mr Sinha firmly stated that there is no question at all about affordability of pension funds and showed annexed consolidated funds details of all PSU bank's pension funds and data sources of procurement with exact reference page to their annual balance sheets. He asked to remember Mr Kakkar that this meeting must be treated as follow up action and our delegation is providing data as demanded by Mr B Raj Kumar,  Dy. Chief Executive of IBA during previous meeting.

Mr Kakkar studied figures with full of interest and ordered for two more xerox copies mentioning that it will be handed over to Chairman and chief executive for further action. This was a good move by IBA, our delegation observed.

In very cordial and long duration meeting Mr Kakkar repeatedly said that some good news may be forthcoming regarding pension updation and he remarked that after approval of updation of pension for RBI employees and officers and announcement of Mr Sunil Mehta made a light for further course of action and direction of IBA.

Mr Khairnar and B K Singh also described apathy of old pensioners and family pensioners. Mr Kakkar accepted and told that all parties and decision making authorities are now having positive views and IBA is proceeding towards solutions.
After delicious tea members of our delegation departed.

Some minor departure of views and actions of IBA have been clearly observed by delegation members with a hope for future.
We will be left with no alternative but continuous follow up for our demands at all corners including with IBA, is our commitment. Let us hope for better in future.
Thanks
Team AIBRAF
NEW DELHI.
8th March, 2019.