Bad Days For Bank Staff Wage Revision

NATIONAL UNION OF BANK EMPLOYEES

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

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

CIRCULAR NO.05 / 2014                                                                        DATE : 14-06-2014

Dear Comrades,

MEETING WITH IBA ON WAGE REVISION TALKS

Having won absolute majority in the Lok Sabha, the new NDA Government pronounced that its cabinet will prepare a list of issues that they will take up in the first 100 days in office, with a focus on efficiency, delivery systems and implementation.  In consonance  with this vision & mission of the new Government, Bank employees, whose wage revision is due from 1-11-2012, were  anxiously expecting a decent wage hike once the negotiations resumes.  Bank employees and public welcomed the priorities set by the Finance Minster to arrest 

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) menace which is depleting the healthy profits earned by the Banks which is estimated at over Rs.2 lakh crore.  There were reports that the Finance Minister is weighing various options such as shifting the Bank NPAs to asset reconstruction companies on a wider scale, and sweeping changes in the Debt Recovery Tribunal's (DRT) legislation, making the dispensation of cases time-bound.  And Bank employees were awaiting good days for Banks and employees ahead with the Government showing willingness for wage revision for which the new dispensation at the centre assured during the election campaign. 

Yes, “good days” have indeed come for some. But “bad days” have befallen to the Bank employees. The meeting of 13^th June 2014 turned to be yet another futile, symbolic meeting with the yawning gulf separating policy pronouncements from the ground reality.  Thus the 10^th 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.

After a gap of 3 months with the last negotiations held on 14-3-2014 which was especially for non-monetary issues raised by the unions, another round of discussions took place with IBA on 13-6-2014 in Mumbai.  As usual, all the eleven unions have participated in this round also, with the undersigned representing NUBE.

IBA informed, profits of the Banks have come down as on 31-3-2014 and therefore they can offer maximum of 11% (increase of meager 1% our emphasis!) on the cost of Pay Slip components of the wage bill which would amount to Rs.3,465 crores and which would be exclusive of other costs on retirement benefits, LFC, hospitalization expenses, etc Since negotiating unions rejected the  offer of 11% increase, IBA wanted to know the expectation of the union.  A representative of the umbrella of nine unions informed that their minimum expectation is 25% increase in the Pay Slip components cost.

It is pertinent to mention here that NUBE was the only union which while submitting its exhaustive charter of demands of 102 pages  for tenth bipartite as early as 16-06-2012 itself, with justifications apriori demanded  45%  over  all increase  on the establishment cost which works to 26.5% (Rs.8348 Crores ) in pay slip costs.  

IBA expressed their total inability to accept the same as it is beyond the paying capacity of the Banks. This stubborn stand of IBA is preposterous and is unacceptable to NUBE in view of the following reasons:

1. 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.56292 crores  the pay slip component is only Rs.31503 crores

2. While offer of 11% on establishment cost will work out to Rs.6192 crores, 11% of pay slips components expenses will amount to a measly figure of Rs.3465 crores only.  Hence the offer of IBA   for one million Bank employees is far below the amount offered during last bipartite settlement.

3. The first round of negotiations started only on 22-02-2013. During this 15 month period  Gross
   non-performing assets (NPAs) of 40 listed Banks shot up by 35.2% or Rs.63,386 crore for the nine months ending December 2013 to cross the Rs.2.4 lakh crore mark. 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. If amount due from  four largest willful defaulters which is around Rs.9384 crores, is recovered with all sincerity, it  is enough to meet the demand of the unions without any burden  and  the so called capacity to pay peddled by the  IBA will fall flat on four  legs.  The unions will be ever willing to support IBA/ government if it initiates appropriate steps.

4. It is pertinent to note that the 11% of pay-slip is not in consonance with the prevailing wages of comparable concerns.  This is contrary to the views expressed in the Sastri Tribunal.  Hence demand of the Bank employees for ensuring parity with Government employees / comparable institutions in fair just and right.

5. Even with 25% hike we will be just inching towards some semblance of parity with pay of government employees if we evaluate the projected salary in anvil in the wake of 7^th Pay Commission.

On other issues

The only silver lining in the meeting was that IBA is favourably inclined to consider demand of extending 100% DA neutralization to all pensioners.  IBA also seems to have shown positive response to improvement in Family Pension. However, unions still need to do lot of work as IBA has not committed anything and only shown positive response.   Thus, a ray of hope continues for pre2002 retired Bank employees for 100% DA. As regards updation of pension, IBA has outlined it involves substantial financial burden to the Banks .This means in all sectors, including central and state Govt., whenever there is an industry wise wage increase, pension will also be increased. In Banking sector it is not so. 

Hence a G.M retired 10 years back is drawing less pension than a clerk retiring now  IBA once again reiterated that our demand for extending appointment on compassionate grounds in the Banks on the lines of Government scheme is under the active and positive consideration of the Government and their decision is awaited. Needless to underscore here that proposal agreed between unions and IBA is pending with Govt.  for considerable period of time, therefore brooks no further delay.

Regarding Improvement of Hospitalisation Expenses, IBA reiterated that the scheme provided by them should be considered by the Union.  A letter of reassurance from the service provider was also given to the Unions on the negotiation table.

On the issue of five days week, IBA said that looking to the approach of the new government at the centre for more working hours, it is not possible for them to pursue the issue any further.

Comrades,

The preposterous, stubborn stand of IBA has shattered our hopes and battered our dreams of an early settlement.   The entire workforce  have felt the insult inflicted by IBA, who failed to live upto the expressions made by IBA Chairman in the first round of discussions held on 22-03-2013  that “the settlement would be concluded at the earliest with reasonable, respectable and comparable wage revision compared with external factors”.

We should take a call on these adverse developments in Toto and chalk out further agitational programmes of higher form to seize 10^th Bipartite Wage Revisions from the unyielding hands, no holds barred.

Let us March forward!

Yours Comradely,

 

(L.BALASUBRAMANIAN)

GENERAL SECRETARY

NUBE     –     ZINDABAD          WORKING CLASS UNITY     –     ZINDABAD