E-Mail: unionbalu@yahoo.co.in, gsnube@gmail.com Phone : 044-28523392 / 28523561

Fax : 044-28522969; Res: 044-23643456

NATIONAL UNION OF BANK EMPLOYEES

(Regd No.3415 / CNI dated 29-07-2011)

Administrative Office: 763, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.

Shri.Dr.Gurdial Singh Sandhu Date : 12-05-2014

Secretary, Department of Financial Services

Ministry of Finance

Jeevan Deep Building, Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 110 001

Dear Sir,

FIVE DAYS WORKING IN A WEEK IN BANKS IN INDIA

REF: OUR LETTER DATED 23-02-2012 & 08-12-2012

We had vide our letters dated 23-02-2012 & 08-12-2012, requested the Government and IBA to consider our demand for 5 day week in tune with global 5 days scenario as under:

Banks in India, are moving towards the trends prevalent in the developed part of the world, where, customers are encouraged to do their routine banking chores, through alternate banking channels, like Net Banking, ATMs, Mobile Bankings, etc. and visiting “brick and mortar” bank branches are discouraged, barring urgent situations and compliance to this is achieved by imposing charges for transactions done at bank branches, after few free transactions.

The unanimous view of the Central Committee of our Union is that, in the light of the revolutionary changes that have taken place as regards the technology initiative, such as tele-banking, internet banking, core banking, any time banking, anywhere banking etc. and also the banking expansion through a large ATM net work, there is a strong case for immediate consideration of the demand of the NUBE for introduction of 5 day week by the Indian Banks’ Association. There are several strong grounds, apart from the infrastructure now created by the Banking Industry which will not cause any harm to the customers in case 5 day week is introduced in the Banking Industry. The first and foremost reason is, the country will be saving a lot of natural resources by way of reduction in the use of fuel by lakhs of employees working in the Banking Industry, since they depend upon their own personal vehicles to attend office. This will also reduce global warming to an extent. Further, 5 day week will provide good health to bank employees who are toiling without any rest for almost 14 to 16 hours a day on account of increased workload and business growth. The reduction of 2 hours of business on Saturday does not affect customers as almost all Banks have increased business hours by two hours per day from Monday to Friday.

At present all Central government establishments, RBI, Forex Department, Parliament, State Assemblies, Treasury, IT/BT industries and Western Countries observe 5 day week. Majority of State government offices remain closed on Second Saturday of the month. Therefore Banking Industry switching over to 5 day week will not make much difference to routine business. Introduction of 5 day week has benefits as it will go a long way in further strengthening our Banking Industry and delivering better results to the people of the country.

With the introduction of technology in the banking sector, basic Banking services are today available 24X7; RBI, Central Government, State Governments, Insurance Sector, Financial Market, Stock Exchange, Foreign Exchange Markets, etc. are closed on Saturdays and Sundays without causing any major inconvenience to general public at large.

With the increased need for canvassing business, marketing, follow-up recovery, etc. one weekday off is inadequate and there is genuine need to introduce 5 Day banking for the Banks. The matter brooks no delay. In pursuance of the aforesaid logic we adduce the following justifications and once again submit a memorandum of the five day week charter, which was submitted by us earlier, which kindly consider objectively.

The memorandum earlier submitted by us enclosed herewith received wide coverage in many sites in the internet, social media and leading news dailies and Bank employees are eagerly awaiting a just response of our genuine, objective demand.

The following sites have heralded the memorandum and uploaded the same in their sites in public domain acknowledging the initiative of NUBE:

12. http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=19&ved=0CGEQFjAIOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fuyo.me%2Fpost%2FDay-to-Day Banking&ei=QZs0UbLAFISqrAfOw4DADw&usg=AFQjCNGMjR12nNi10-NlRW9Lh5CPDiLPOQ&sig2=gfNZXmtErlMwT2XVgLCNkA&bvm=bv.43148975,d.bmk

http://uyo.me/post/Day-to-Day_Banking
http://bestsearching.com/index.cfm?category=Web&find=Five%20Day%20Week%20Banks%2001%2006%202012
http://www.scribd.com/doc/116183697/5-Days-Week-in-Bank
http://www.centralgovernmentnews.com/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube-submitted-memorandum/
http://centralgovernmentstaffnews.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Indian-Overseas-BANK-Employees/145436728933607
http://www.paycommissionupdate.blogspot.in/2012/12/bankers-demand-5-days-week-nube.html
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_xbR7CgIQiNZE5ILTd3YmZ3STQ/edit?pli=1
http://bankingonly.com/news/5-day-week-demanded-by-national-union-of-bank-employees-with-133-pages-justifications_4985.html
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/banking/bank-unions-demand-5day-week/article5411162.ece

Even as early as September 16, 2003, There was a press news titled 5 day week for banks on the card wherein the then IBA Chief Executive Sri.H.N.Sinor said "With most markets closed on Saturdays, it does not make sense to keep Banks open. Banks can work five days a week but for longer hours." The apex bankers' body will hold discussions with various trade bodies on this issue and approach state governments to cut the number of bank holidays recognised under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Under the proposal, Banks across the country will remain closed only on three days a year – January 26, August 15 and October 2. “Banks are now closed on Diwali, Id and all other religious festivals. We want to convert these holidays into sectional holidays, Sinor pointed out. This essentially means that employees belonging to a particular community will be able to take leave on those days but banks will remain open.

IBA will discuss the proposal with the Confederation of Indian Industry, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other business associations, which have been demanding abolition of frequent bank holidays. If they have no problem with the proposal, the bankers' body will take it up with the finance ministry as well as the state governments. With most banks working 24 hours a day through ATMs and other channels, a five-day week may not face much resistance from the public. Banks will, however, continue to have the freedom to keep some of their branches open on Saturdays and even on Sundays, depending on local needs.” (http://www.rediff.com/money/2003/sep/16banks.htm).

We understand from the media that your department/ IBA is favourably inclined to evaluate the demand after objective analysis as appearing in Business Standard, 21^st April, 2014 and in The Hindu Business Line dated 18^th April, 2014.

(see:http://www.business-standard.com/article/finance/call-for-5-day-week-for-state-banks resurfaces-114042100053_1.html & http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/public-sector-bankers-plan-to-ask-finance-ministry-for-5day week/article 5926262.ece)

We look forward to an early resolution of this long pending demand as per global traditions and/or as being implemented in other establishment of Government.

We underscore once again the following positive benefits of a 5 days week culture:

Ø Reduced fuel costs

Ø Increased productivity

Ø Reduced personnel turnover

Ø Improved work-life balance

Ø Reduced traffic congestion

Ø Decreased absenteeism

Ø Improved job satisfaction and morale

Ø Reduced energy costs

Ø Less Disability Claims. As stress falls, so might disability claims

Ø Savings in Bank and Nations exchequer

Our Memorandum :

In the light of aforesaid facts, we are hopeful that our justifications in the enclosed booklet memorandum submitted by us earlier as mentioned above would be viewed with fresh perspective in the larger interest of the country enclosed to this letter.

Awaiting your favorable response.

Thanking you, Yours faithfully,

Encl : Our Memorandum Booklet –on 5 Day week in Banks

(L.BALASUBRAMANIAN)

Cc to : The Chairman, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai. GENERAL SECRETARY

Sri.M.V.Tanksale, Chief Executive, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai.

Sri.K.Unnikrishnan, Deputy Chief Executive, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai.

Meeting on wage settlement with IBA turned futile: Bank Employees Union-Business Standard-19th June 2014

Recovering large NPAs could help Banks to pay increase in pay slip components

The industry-wide bipartite wage settlement negotiations held in a meeting on June 13 has turned futile for the bank employees, as the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) offered an increase of 11% on the cost of pay slip components of the wage bill, according to National Union of Bank Employees(NUBE).

An umbrella organisation of nine Bank unions has informed that their minimum expectation is 25% increase in the Pay Slip components cost and this could easily arranged if the Banks retrieve their top Non Performing Asset (NPAs).

"The meeting of 13th June 2014 turned to be yet another futile, symbolic meeting with the yawning gulf separating policy pronouncements from the ground reality. Thus the 10th Industry-wide Bipartite Wage Settlement negotiations in the Banking sector have dragged on for more than one-and-a-half years now without making much headway," said an announcement from the Union.

It added that the IBA has informed the unions that the profits of the Banks have come down by the end of March 2014 and they can offer maximum of 11% on the cost of Pay Slip components of the wage bill.

This would amount to Rs 3,465 crore and would be exclusive of other costs on retirement benefits, leave fare concession, hospitalisation expenses, etc. Since negotiating unions rejected the offer of 11% increase, IBA wanted to know the expectation of the union and a representative of the umbrella of nine unions informed that their minimum expectation is 25% increase in the Pay Slip components cost, it added.

The Union added that the IBA informed them that the demand is beyond the paying capacity of the Banks. IBA's stand is unacceptable to the Union since in all the previous settlements salary increase was given a load to total establishment expenses.

"In this wage negotiations we have been offered on fixed pay components. As against the total establishment expenses of Rs 56,292 crore the pay slip component is only Rs 31,503 crore," said the Union.

While offer of 11% on establishment cost will work out to Rs 6192 crore, compared to 11% of pay slips components expenses would amount to Rs 3,465 crore only. Hence the offer of IBA for one million Bank employees is far below the amount offered during last bipartite settlement.

The Union also said that the Gross NPA of 40 listed banks shot up by 35% or Rs 63,386 crore during the nine month period from February, 22, 2013, to cross the Rs 2.4 lakh crore. This jump of 35.2% was higher than the 27% rise witnessed in the first six months of the current financial year according to a study done by NPA source.com, a portal which focuses on resolution of assets.

"Even if an infinitesimal of 1.83% of these NPA is recovered in tune with the policy plan of the present Finance Minster is expedited with all the seriousness, the demand of the union can be easily met without increase in the exchequer," said L Balasubramanian, general secretary of NUBE.

If amount due from four largest willful defaulters which is around Rs 9,384 crore, is recovered, it is enough to meet the demand of the unions without any burden and the unions will be ever willing to support IBA or the government if it initiates appropriate steps, added the Union.

However, there was a favourable silver lining in the meeting, that IBA is favourably inclined to consider demand of extending 100% DA neutralization to all pensioners, it added. IBA also seems to have shown positive response to improvement in Family Pension, but the Union still have to a lot more since the IBA has not given any commitment.

Link Business Standard

Important Informations

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Letter To FM For 5 Days Week

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Wage Settlement Meeting Failed

Meeting on wage settlement with IBA turned futile: Bank Employees Union-Business Standard-19th June 2014