Bank wage talks resume after 3 months -Hindu Business Line
Kochi, June 13:
The long-term wage-settlement negotiations between the trade unions in the banking sector and the Indian Banks Association, which got stalled during the last lap of the Manmohan Singh Government, have resumed.
On Friday, the IBA functionaries held talks with the leaders of the United Forum of Bank Unions, representing a large number of trade unions in public sector and private sector banks. The last round of talks between the UFBU and the IBA, along with Finance Ministry officials, was held on March 14.
However, Friday’s talks ended inclusively, UFBU leaders told Business Line. At the talks, held in Mumbai, the IBA upped its offer of wage rise from the earlier 10 per cent to 11.
But, the UFBU insisted that there should at least be 25 per cent increase in the ‘pay slip component’ of the bank staff. The IBA rejected the demand outright and the talks ended inconclusively without setting a date for the next round of talks.
Leaders said this was the first time that the UFBU had put figure to figure their demand for wage rise. But, the IBA functionaries’ offer had not come anywhere near the unions’ demand.
However, union leaders feel that now that a new Government is in place at the Centre, the IBA will substantially improve its offer in the next round of talks. The IBA needs the Finance Ministry’s nod for making an improved offer.
Link Hindu Business Line
BY Dhruba Debnath -----BLACK FRIDAY FOR BANKERS!!!!
Kochi, June 13:
The long-term wage-settlement negotiations between the trade unions in the banking sector and the Indian Banks Association, which got stalled during the last lap of the Manmohan Singh Government, have resumed.
On Friday, the IBA functionaries held talks with the leaders of the United Forum of Bank Unions, representing a large number of trade unions in public sector and private sector banks. The last round of talks between the UFBU and the IBA, along with Finance Ministry officials, was held on March 14.
However, Friday’s talks ended inclusively, UFBU leaders told Business Line. At the talks, held in Mumbai, the IBA upped its offer of wage rise from the earlier 10 per cent to 11.
But, the UFBU insisted that there should at least be 25 per cent increase in the ‘pay slip component’ of the bank staff. The IBA rejected the demand outright and the talks ended inconclusively without setting a date for the next round of talks.
Leaders said this was the first time that the UFBU had put figure to figure their demand for wage rise. But, the IBA functionaries’ offer had not come anywhere near the unions’ demand.
However, union leaders feel that now that a new Government is in place at the Centre, the IBA will substantially improve its offer in the next round of talks. The IBA needs the Finance Ministry’s nod for making an improved offer.
Link Hindu Business LineBY Dhruba Debnath -----BLACK FRIDAY FOR BANKERS!!!!
Today's meeting again proved we have a long struggle & fight for an ideal WAGE.I like other bankers became quite disheaertened after reading some of my friends post of 11% offer.This seems that we are no more a white collared employees as if we are being treated like MANREGA workers whose wages are being increased by existing GOVT.like what IBA offered with 1% increase from their previous offer which they too were offering before the elections.
If we see from the side of IBA whatever offer they had made till today on looking at the balance sheets of some of our struggling PSU banks,whose balance sheet are not in a position of shedding out 10% towards wage for the employees.
It doesn't mean that I am too acting like the puppet of IBA.According to sources whatever I had heard before the submission of "CHARTER OF DEMANDS",where IBA had already offered to our UFBU leaders that demand of min.40-50% offer was acceptable to them if they allow the old proposal of MOF "MERGERS".
The above proposal of "MERGERS"which was rejected by the UFBU and they oppose the same till today.
My dear friends I dont think myself an enriched economist or an experienced banker but whatever today I am expressing is all the frustration which I think you all are feeling after almost 18 months.
1)UFBU will always oppose "MERGERS"because it will bring an end to their luxury time.
2)MERGERS will reduce the existing numbers of GS,AGS,Executive Members of each & every banks enjoying the best postings in their tenure.
3)MERGERS will immediately force them transferred to far away places because some of them are enjoying those postings for >7 years(approx.)
I do agree that MERGERS might give a set back to employees of loosing one increment but I think that atleast by shedding one increment we can get a better pay hike.
If we can shed our hard earned salaries for stupid 2 days strike which resulted in 11% hike in todays meeting.
I think we the existing staff can happily welcome "MERGERS" because already we are in the deadline and somehow its not know but in next settlement we have to get ourselves merged with other BANKS.
During 90s there was huge opposition from this UFBU regarding Computerisation but finally we are working in that environment.
4)MERGERS will bring quality in our work environment where we will get our respect back which we dont have in the society.
5)Branch Managers dont have to fight for GOVT.DEPOSITS,sorry not fight its begging for a cheque from the 10th pass babu working in GOVT DEPT.
6) Competition of retaining NO.1 POSITION locally among other PSUs will vanish & this will help us to compete with other GLOBAL BANKS at International Level.(still we the INDIAN BANKS are strong as per our tight norms like BASEL 3)
MY DEAR FRIENDS I WOULD SUGGEST THAT PLEASE DONT GO & SUPPORT ON STUPID 1-2 DAYS STRIKE CALLED BY OUR THINKERS UFBU.
ITS TIME NOW WE SHOULD OPPOSE THIS &FORCE OUR LAST & EXISTING LEADERS TO GIVE US A RESPECT IN THE SOCIETY.
WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT XTH BIPARTITE WILL NOT FETCH A BETTER PAY BUT IT MAY FETCH A BETTER PAY FOR TO BE RETIRED LEADERS ON SOME BETTERMENT IN THEIR PENSION SYSTEM.
I MAY BE NOT LIKED BY ALL BUT SORRY I CANT CONTROL MY FRUSTRATIONS ANYMORE…..
STILL A HOPE IS THERE THAT ONE DAY TIME WILL COME WHEN WE WILL GET BACK OUR LOST DIGNITY…..
WAGE REVISION- Xth BI-PARTITE SETTLEMENT:
BY JSOMA SHEKARA
(I.B.A.) improved their offer from earlier 10% to 11 % which UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS ...( U.F.B.U.) rejected.Since detailed circular has not come it would be improper to comment about it. However detailed circular will have only minor additional details like heading of Union reporting it and name of the person signing it.Everything else will be same as reported perviously.
1. To day nothing has been discussed. It must be noted that during Feb meeting itself IBA has asked how much wage hike UFBU is expecting. At that time UFBU did not gave any specific reply.
2. UFBU also has not asked IBA if not 25% how much wage hike IBA is ready to agree. Both could have arrived at some figure between 11% and 25% viz. 15% or 17%. So that UFBU could move on to other major demands like Pension Updation etc.
3. It is not clear since there is stalemate on wage revision, whether UFBU has taken up Pensioners issues in to day's meeting. Was Pensioners issues brought in Feb and Mar to chat on something and spend time as Election Code was in force?
4. Next meeting will be scheduled for some where in August and again IBA will improve its offer by 0.50% or 1% and UFBU will reject to be discussed in next meeting.
Had UFBU leaders were serious before attending meeting they would have met FM and requested him to issue guidelines to IBA to finish BPS in a short time.
We do not find any UFBUs writ in negotiations. They will just attend meeting and report IBA has said this said that we did not agree.
JSOMA SHEKARA
2. UFBU also has not asked IBA if not 25% how much wage hike IBA is ready to agree. Both could have arrived at some figure between 11% and 25% viz. 15% or 17%. So that UFBU could move on to other major demands like Pension Updation etc.
3. It is not clear since there is stalemate on wage revision, whether UFBU has taken up Pensioners issues in to day's meeting. Was Pensioners issues brought in Feb and Mar to chat on something and spend time as Election Code was in force?
4. Next meeting will be scheduled for some where in August and again IBA will improve its offer by 0.50% or 1% and UFBU will reject to be discussed in next meeting.
Had UFBU leaders were serious before attending meeting they would have met FM and requested him to issue guidelines to IBA to finish BPS in a short time.
We do not find any UFBUs writ in negotiations. They will just attend meeting and report IBA has said this said that we did not agree.
JSOMA SHEKARA
