Banking services across India may be affected for two days from tomorrow as several public sector bank employees' unions have decided to sit on a two-day bank strike. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given the call for the January 31 bank employees strike. The UFBU is an umbrella organisation that includes 9 bank unions such as All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and National Organisation of Bank Workers.
Thousands of bank employees, who have been waiting for a pay hike since November 2017, are likely to join the protest.
SBI and other PSU banks have notified their customers that services are likely to be affected due to the proposed two-day nationwide strike on 31 Jan and 1st Fab 2020.
Officials of the labour department and finance ministry had tried to convince the bank union against going on the strike but the matter could not be resolved amicably between Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and representatives of the United Forum of Bank Unions due to differences.
Many retirees are hopeful that UFBU will take up the issues related to retirees also while negotiating wage revision for working bank employees with IBA . But as far as my assessment of past record and present style of commitment by leaders of various associations and UFBU is concerned , I feel that neither IBA nor Bank union leaders will talk of problems related to retirees.
Bank retirees are left with two options , that is legal action or mass agitation all over the country. It is worthwhile to mention here that hundreds and thousands of letters have been written By various individuals and pensioners forum to Government of India, Ministry of Finance and through several Members of Parliament requesting them to resolve issues pertaining to pensioners. Unfortunately government has not paid any attention to their letters despite lapse of years and decades.
Since retirees are scattered in various corners of the country and they are divided in various forums, it is not possible for them to adopt the course of Mass agitation and continue it for months and years as retired armed force personnels did in recent past . Further retirees are mostly in old age and physically not as fit as working employees in young ages use to be.
And it is certain that government do not listen to demand as long as it become aggresive and vote killer. As such the option of mass agitation has little scope of success.
Obviously bank retirees are left with one and only one option of legal action. It gives much relief that many officers have already filed cases in various courts. Many officers of many banks have filed their claims for gratuity arrear in the office of Asst Labour Commission falling in their area of retirement or residence. It is a matter of joy that many officers have got favourable orders from ALC . Still banks are not paying arrear of gratuity to petitioners. Banks have in some cases filed appeal in higher courts and litigation continues. Similarly cases related to pension updation are pending in High court. It indicates the intention of government too.
If we can file a joint case in Supreme Court or High court forming a big group of aggrieved officers , it will have faster affect .We can extend moral and financial power to those who are fighting their cases in courts of law.
It is however certain that retirees who are expecting positive results from bank unions AIBOC or AIBEA or UFBU, are wondering in dreamland. This is because grievance of pension updating is more thab two decades old and that of gratuity uniformity for more than a decade. During this long period many Bipartite Settlements have taken place and every time union leaders promised to raise issues of retirees and everytime failed to achieve anything in result. This proves the intention behind all such promises.
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Latest report on what happened during negotiation on BS is as follows as reported on Whatsapp group platform. Need to be confirmed.
Today Negotiations for 11th BPS started at 11.30am at IBA Office Mumbai. Negotiations committee chairman first offer to start negotiations if two days strike of UFBU withdraw. UFBU Clear their stand by reminding 12points demand. After that Chairman cleared all the points.
1. Offer 13%on pay slip comprising a cost of Rs 6845crores. He further clarified that if we take load of 2%then cost will escalate to Rs. 12391crores which will come to 14%.
2. On 5day banking they told to continue the discussion but there was not any commitment.
3. On merger of spl pay component 7.75% they offer to merge within over all component which was not acceptable at all.
4. On revision of pension n family pension they had offer to talk but outside the perview of 11BPS which was not acceptable.
5. On staff welfare, Income tax n Equal wage for equal work they have told that it is under Govt jurisdiction.
6. On uniform banking hours n restricted working hours they had told that we are doing business n it is not in our hand.
7.On introduction of leave bank- Not acceptable.
8. On PLI they told to relook.
After that they told these all offers are only acceptable if strike withdrawn.
UFBU met separately n rejected these offers.
2nd Round discussion started at 2.10pm IBA Offered 13.5% which was also not acceptable.
Again UFBU discussed separately n told that without commitment of 15%on pay slip we can not move further.Then meeting adjourned.
In the meantime when we were on the way to Hotel we had been called at SBI Corporate office to discuss further in which IBA chairman coffered 15% including load factor, 5days PL encashment n spl pay which was not acceptable.
This was the development. Hope our rank n file will understand the position n will actively participate in the two days strike to make a grand success.
NOBW ZINDABAD
Forwarded as received
JKMehrotra
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Another source says as follows.
BANK KARMACHARI SENA MAHASANGH
========================
XI Bipartite Settlement
÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
Today's Negotiations
******************************
On Thursday 30 January 2020 another round of Negotiations took place at IBA office, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
BKSM was represented by our Dy General Secretary Sri. VINOD NIKAM.
Following discussion emerged :
1. Salary Increase : IBA offered rise of 13% initially which was gradually raised to *13.50 %* on Pay Slip. Earlier offer was 12.25%.
Unions were adamant on at least 15% hike on Pay Slip.
Talks failed. UFBU also refused to withdraw it's strike call.
IBA made it clear that today's offer for increase at 13.50% was for today only. Next round will begin from earlier offer of 12.25%.
2. Increase on Spl Allowances may not be added to loading factor.
3. Unions insisted for relook into their demand for "five day week".
4. Officers are required to work till very late regularly. Unions wanted IBA to fix their Working Hours. IBA showed it's inability to do so.
5. Increase in Family Pension : IBA said it's not part of this settlement. It's a separate issue. It's not time to discuss FP issue in the middle of main wage revision.
6. Offered facility for encashment of PL of 5/7 days per annum will not be part of load, clarified IBA.
7. IBA clarified that replacing NPS OR improving returns from it is not in the jurisdiction of IBA.
8. IBA also clarified that introduction of 'Leave Bank' will not be possible.
9. PLI or Performance Linked Incentive offered last time will be Re - worked as it was linked to Fixed Pay hike of 12.25%. With increase in Fixed Pay component, PLI has to be re - worked.
10. Quantum of Salary Rise has direct link with arrears payable. They are due from Nov 2017.
IBA appears adamant on not giving expected Pay hike. Let us see what happens in future negotiations.
Date for next round of talks is not declared.
IMP : As declared by our separate communication, we are not participating in two day strike beginning tomorrow. We are NOT going on strike.
Thank you.
VILAS GHUGARE
GENERAL SECRETARY
Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh Zindabad
( FORWARDED AS RECEIVED )
---------------------------
Latest report on what happened during negotiation on BS is as follows as reported on Whatsapp group platform. Need to be confirmed.
Today Negotiations for 11th BPS started at 11.30am at IBA Office Mumbai. Negotiations committee chairman first offer to start negotiations if two days strike of UFBU withdraw. UFBU Clear their stand by reminding 12points demand. After that Chairman cleared all the points.
1. Offer 13%on pay slip comprising a cost of Rs 6845crores. He further clarified that if we take load of 2%then cost will escalate to Rs. 12391crores which will come to 14%.
2. On 5day banking they told to continue the discussion but there was not any commitment.
3. On merger of spl pay component 7.75% they offer to merge within over all component which was not acceptable at all.
4. On revision of pension n family pension they had offer to talk but outside the perview of 11BPS which was not acceptable.
5. On staff welfare, Income tax n Equal wage for equal work they have told that it is under Govt jurisdiction.
6. On uniform banking hours n restricted working hours they had told that we are doing business n it is not in our hand.
7.On introduction of leave bank- Not acceptable.
8. On PLI they told to relook.
After that they told these all offers are only acceptable if strike withdrawn.
UFBU met separately n rejected these offers.
2nd Round discussion started at 2.10pm IBA Offered 13.5% which was also not acceptable.
Again UFBU discussed separately n told that without commitment of 15%on pay slip we can not move further.Then meeting adjourned.
In the meantime when we were on the way to Hotel we had been called at SBI Corporate office to discuss further in which IBA chairman coffered 15% including load factor, 5days PL encashment n spl pay which was not acceptable.
This was the development. Hope our rank n file will understand the position n will actively participate in the two days strike to make a grand success.
NOBW ZINDABAD
Forwarded as received
JKMehrotra
----------------------------------------------
Another source says as follows.
BANK KARMACHARI SENA MAHASANGH
========================
XI Bipartite Settlement
÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷
Today's Negotiations
******************************
On Thursday 30 January 2020 another round of Negotiations took place at IBA office, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.
BKSM was represented by our Dy General Secretary Sri. VINOD NIKAM.
Following discussion emerged :
1. Salary Increase : IBA offered rise of 13% initially which was gradually raised to *13.50 %* on Pay Slip. Earlier offer was 12.25%.
Unions were adamant on at least 15% hike on Pay Slip.
Talks failed. UFBU also refused to withdraw it's strike call.
IBA made it clear that today's offer for increase at 13.50% was for today only. Next round will begin from earlier offer of 12.25%.
2. Increase on Spl Allowances may not be added to loading factor.
3. Unions insisted for relook into their demand for "five day week".
4. Officers are required to work till very late regularly. Unions wanted IBA to fix their Working Hours. IBA showed it's inability to do so.
5. Increase in Family Pension : IBA said it's not part of this settlement. It's a separate issue. It's not time to discuss FP issue in the middle of main wage revision.
6. Offered facility for encashment of PL of 5/7 days per annum will not be part of load, clarified IBA.
7. IBA clarified that replacing NPS OR improving returns from it is not in the jurisdiction of IBA.
8. IBA also clarified that introduction of 'Leave Bank' will not be possible.
9. PLI or Performance Linked Incentive offered last time will be Re - worked as it was linked to Fixed Pay hike of 12.25%. With increase in Fixed Pay component, PLI has to be re - worked.
10. Quantum of Salary Rise has direct link with arrears payable. They are due from Nov 2017.
IBA appears adamant on not giving expected Pay hike. Let us see what happens in future negotiations.
Date for next round of talks is not declared.
IMP : As declared by our separate communication, we are not participating in two day strike beginning tomorrow. We are NOT going on strike.
Thank you.
VILAS GHUGARE
GENERAL SECRETARY
Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh Zindabad
( FORWARDED AS RECEIVED )
Why ufbu waited for more than two years to give indefinite strike call,they would have given the call when iba offered 2%.why unions do not stick to their demands.if they had gone on strike two years ago the settlement might have been over.why they wait for every time iba offer in the beginning it self iba intention was clear.who is fooling whom.both iba and ufbu are making employees baffoons
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