Economy of Banks' Unions.

 फोरम आफ बैंक पेंशनर एक्टिविस्टस्

 Forum of Bank Pensioner Activists

                  PRAYAGRAJ

कामये दु:खतप्तानां प्राणिनाम् आर्तिनाशनम् ।

FOR CIRCULATION:

In our article dated 21.7.2020, we dealt at length, the issue of Bank Unions' Trade. Those who missed it to read, read it now, as given below to understand the economy of Banks' Unions. It's the zero capital, zero production, zero services based trade. Inflow is guaranteed on salary day every month. Once, there can be cloud to cover sun rays, but there is no doubt about inflows. Whatever inflows are, that's total income. Outflows are unaccountable, nobody bothers where it goes and for what it goes. Need not be a productive purpose. Whatever statement of  accounts are furnished, people shout out pass pass. It's taken as understood. Nobody looks into or raise any query. If someone dares, it's taken as blasphemy. Such people are termed as anti-Union and their voice is repressed. Leaders don't think, they need to answer anything in accounting matters to anybody. 

Earlier subscriptions were very nominal. It was difficult to meet organizational expenses. Leaders used to travel in ordinary classes, even without reservation, used to stay in Dharamshalas or with some known friends or relatives. Hotel stay was unthinkable paradise. They used to escape breakfast or lunch, pass whole day on one meal. We don't say it was good or an deal situation. Here,  purpose is to highlight poor financial conditions of Unions & leaders.  But, over decades, sea changes have had taken place. Now, sky is limit. Bank executives have class restrictions, but Union leaders have no such restrictions. He can travel in any class and stay in any hotel. The only thing, which is unachieved so far, that they don't have private jet or helicopter. It's probability can't be ruled out. However, to be fair, let us say,  there is not only misuse, but abuse of financial resources of Unions. 

Earlier, there was no levy. In the name of paucity of Funds, levy was imposed. But, on other hand monthly subscriptions were too have been increasing. Before bilaterism, issues were decided by courts & tribunals. It were time taking. So, Unions demanded settlement of demands, through mutual discussions. In initial days, it worked well. 1st, 2nd & 3rd settlements were achieved just in 9 to 11 months. Thereafter the phase of delay runs into uncertainties. Delays mean more arrears and more arrears mean percentage wise more levy. Now, delays have defined motive to maximize levies. All Unions have now this as their common objective, while in beginning it was started by one and criticized by rests.  We give below the history of all settlements:

BS    From      Signed on   Arrears

01   01.01.66   19.10.66    09 mths

02   01.01.70   12.10.70    09 mths

03.  01.09.78   01.08.79    11 mths

04.  01.09.82   17.09.84    24 mths

05.  01.07.87   10.04.89    21 mths

06.  01.11.92   14.02.95    28 mths

07.  01.11.97   27.03.00    29 mths

08.  01.11.02   02.06.05    32 mths

09.  01.11.07   27.04.10    30 mths

10.  01.11.12   25.05.15    30 mths

11.  01.11.17          **            **

**- not available

Initially, arrears started in hundreds and now turned it out into thousands/ lakhs over course of time. This time, so far 36 months arrears have had become due. We may take it at an average of Rs.2 lakh per head. Rest, you workout over 10 lakh workforce going to get it.

In a meeting of a State Federation of a biggest Workmen Union a over enthusiastic leader proposed to impose 20% levy. Such is hypocrisy. 

It's Bank men money, they are at liberty to spend it in a manner they like. But, they must understand that it's their hard earned and 'discounted' money. Unions have done nothing praiseworthy or tangible in this regard. Further, all Unions have plenty money, so where is need of further such funding? Funds are the cause of inner conflicts in Unions. There is war like situation, one is trying to topple other to capture money seat. More money, more conflicts. More money more misappropriation. Unions need workable fund. Since there is no work, there is no fund requirement. It's not secret any more that Unions' funds go to such people who are anti-national and of tukde-tukde gang. It goes to such political outfits who are friendly to our enemy nations,  China or Pakistan. 

We leave it to the wisdom of Bank men to decide whether they want to pay for anti-national tukde-tukde gang or to the political parties standing with China, Pakistan, killing our people & soldiers.

Do whatever your inner conscience permits. Our sincere appeal is: please don't kill your inner instinct of noble man. Please remain a free, frank and fearless man in your decisions, not like a slave.

Greetings,

(J. N. Shukla)

National Convener,

16.10.2020

9559748834

Encl. Post of 21.7.2020

Bank Unions' Trade

 

BUSINESS TURN OVER WORTH 

Rs.161,40,00,000/=

PER ANNUM

LEVY BONANZA OVER

RS. 640,00,00,000

- an additional periodical dose

The Bank men are simple & innocent guys, live in very isolation & seclusive atmosphere, say unaware of many facts around, which, we think, they must know, since they form the axis of activities, be it banking or Unions. They must know Banking, since they have to run it. They must know products & services because they have to trade in and ensure effective delivery. They must know rules and regulations of business with a view to adhere them to keep the Bank & himself safe. At the same time, they must know the history of Banking, from it's primitive age to present day modern Technology driven Banking. 

Since Banking is well organised, regulated and institutionalized industry, it's work force spread across the country have organised themselves under trade Unions with a view to safe guard themselves from un toward actions. Further, Unions have been looked upon as an instrument of change, in organized set of trade, industries & services, thus they hold great importance.

The Bank men Union history is over 7 decade old. Primarily, it started from workmen cadre, since it was lowest rungs of piramid. Officers were taken as HMV. Masters used them to manage the operations and work force. 

However, after nationalization of 14 major commercial banks in 1969, officer community too started thinking to have some organized set-up. This way, today, banking work force upto General Manager level is unionized. 

Today, there are 10 Unions of work men & officers recognized in Banking. Nine of these Unions are under one CLUB, called UFBU. One Mumbai based Sena Union remains out. The CLUB is managed by a Convenor who takes cares of club members as to what would there be in drinks- tea, coffee, cold drinks or liquors of which brand-foods in breakfasts, lunch, refreshments, & dinners.  

This set up, Club, was created to adjust inter Union conflicts & squabbles, which was the order of the day till mid-1990s. Earlier, all were free or grouped, engaged in peeping into others or raising others tail to expose gender. It was thought, inner conflicts & squabbles were counter productive, exposing one or other. Just to resolve this equation, Club was formed and now none of them neither peep into nor raise one's tail. All are attuned and speak in one language, one content as told by IBA. It was an alliance per force, call it as device to show a common face in banking fraternity. 

The PSBs Unions have over 10 lakh members. Cadre-wise strength stands around as under:

Officers-     4.25  lakks

Clerks-        3.75  lakhs

Sub-staff-   2.00  lakhs

Total-         10.00 lakhs   

Monthly Subscription Rates:

Officers-.     @ Rs.200.00 per member

Clerks-.        @ Rs.100.00 per member

Sub-staff.    @ Rs.  60.00 per member

Monthly Cadre-wise Subs Revenue:

Officers:  425000×200 = Rs.850,00,000

Clerk:.      375000×100 = Rs.375,00,000

Sub staff:200000×  60 = Rs.120,00,000

TOTAL SUBS Per Month: Rs.13,45,00,000

Annual Turnover:

Rs.1345,00,000×12= Rs.161,40,00,000/=

We need not to explain twin formats that Bank Union have as their set up. One set is all India Bank wise Unions, their State bodies followed with District units. Second set is all India Banks Union like NCBE, AIBEA etc, their State Federation & District Units. They all get share from the aforesaid corpse.

In addition, they collect 4% levy from wage revision arrears. Further, they collect funds in the name of periodical meetings & conferences. Every wage settlement has an average of 30 months arrears. Just take for example. This year ending 31.3.2020, PSBs' Balance sheets  have shown Rs.16,000 crores as arrear provisions. At 4% it works out as Rs.640 crores.

We never saw any bankmen raising any question on expenditures whenever Income & Expenditures of Unions are placed. Always it's pass pass & pass. It's  cult or culture, we leave it to bank men to adjudge, but as facts reveal, one is master of loath of his share. At individual level it's just matter of Rs. 60, 100 or 200 rupees per month, but in system it converts into gigantic pile up of wealth, as shown above, on which leaders preside. 

In other words, bank men are unaware of Unions economic power over which their leaders sit as vultures. Leaders have become professionals, akin to politician. Study of various state/bankwise/all India organizations reveal that cause of inner conflicts are very common on money grounds. Greater the money: bitter the conflicts! Here too, purse controls the union politics. Leaders at apex, keep their own people in perpetual conflicts allowing them to cut each others throats. They patronize, promote and pamper inner conflicts to secure their unquestioned monarchies. Raising a question is taken as blasphemy, though Unions profess democracy that means freedom to impressions & expressions. It's the game, Oldmen play to remain Goldmen for life long.

It's very easy to understand such money game of pass pass. Collection is 100% guaranteed, under check-off system. In early days, it was being collected in cash from member to member.  

In net shell, crux of issue is that it's MONEY that matters now. Some of Unions have forbidden retired entry. Some Unions have restricted top positions for 2 terms only. While, some Unions have left the task to nature. This 'nature' tendencies are playing havoc in Unions.  Such leaders preach for cadre building, leadership promotion. It's just befooling trick. Question is: how without uncorking the bottle, contents can be poured out? These retired people are like corcks. If really Unions want cadre, leadership development, they must have a succession policy and atleast remove one once he is retired from service. 

'You can't have your cake and eat it too' is an old proverb. Unions can't have good cadre and leadership, if they don't have clear succession policy. Unions are live institutions. They must remain vibrant, that's virtually need young and energetic leadership at the helm of affairs. Don't depend on 'nature' to take such decisions, by that time it used to very late and ruinous. It turns out to be a chronic disease. It's prevalence over long time, damages all internal organs of body as a whole. Bank men know it, but just they are holding to their chest the dead corpses. We need not to name, which are worst hit Unions, which are run as Monastery by monks, really not by true representatives of bank men.

 

( J. N. Shukla)

National Convenor

21.7.2020

9559748834