Employees from over 47 banks are planning to go on strike on 18th December to protest the proposed reforms in the banking sector and immediate revision in wage settlement
Around 10 lakh bank employees and officers working in 27 public sector banks including State Bank of India (SBI) and 12 old generation private sector banks and eight foreign banks will resort to two days nationwide strike on 18th December, says United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
Around 10 lakh bank employees and officers working in 27 public sector banks including State Bank of India (SBI) and 12 old generation private sector banks and eight foreign banks will resort to two days nationwide strike on 18th December, says United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
UFBU, the umbrella organisation of five employee unions and four officer unions of state-run banks in the country, is demanding immediate wage revision settlement and protesting against the ongoing banking sector reforms.
In a statement, CH Venkatachalam, general secretary of All India Bank EmployeesAssociation (AIBEA), said BK Sanwaria, chief labour commissioner on Monday held a conciliation meeting in Delhi between the UFBU and Indian Bank's Association (IBA). "Since IBA did not agree to revise their offer, the meeting ended in a failure and hence the strike will be observed as scheduled," he said.
According to UFBU, the last wage settlement in the banking sector expired in October 2012 and hence a revised settlement was due from November 2012. However, since the last one year, the discussions have been very tardy and UFBU gave a call for strike. On 14 December 2013, the IBA called the Unions for talks and made their offer, which was found to be too low and hence was not acceptable to the Unions and hence UFBU decided to go ahead with the strike, the statement said.
Nine unions, AIBEA, All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation Of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA),Bank Employees Federation Of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank EmployeesFederation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), National Organisation Of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation Of Bank Officers (NOBO) have given the call for strike under the UBFU umbrella.
ALL INDIA STRIKE BY BANK EMPLOYEES-18th DECEMBER
(WAGE REVISION Xth BI-PARTITE SETTLEMENT)
CONCILIATION BEFORE CHIEF LABOUR COMMISSIONER
(C.L.C.) CENTRAL ON 16th DECEMBER FAILED.
AS PER CALL GIVEN BY UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS' ( U.F.B.U.) MAKE THE STRIKE A GRAND SUCCESS.
ALL INDIA STRIKE ON 18th DECEMBER.
TAHIR ALI
CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER
NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF BANK EMPLOYEES'
(N.C.B.E.)
By Rupesh Shivaram S (Facebook)
Colleagues, Propagate this post across the Banking Communities, especially to Union Members.
Let us speak about some truth about Gross Profit and Salary Expenses of Banks.
As at Mar.2007, the Gross profit of PSBs including SBI was Rs.37,067Cr and wage bill was of Rs.24,982Cr.
Percentage of Salary to Gross Profit was 67%.
After 5 years (Wage revision takes once in 5 years),
as at Mar.2013, Gross Profit made stands at Rs.1,07,731Cr as against wage bill of Rs.57,707Cr.
Percentage of Salary to Gross Profit came down to 54% from the 5 year ago level of 67%.
Clearly an indication that Salary is not increasing to the tune of Profits, employees are exploited denying due revision.
To attain the Mar.07 ratio of profit and salary(67%), Mar.13 salary could have been to the tune of Rs.72,180Cr as against the actual salary bill of Rs.57,707Cr.Clear indication that employees are underpaid by Rs.14,473Cr.
With blind folded eyes, Unions( Bank Employees) have the right to demnad minimum 25% (14,473 is 25% of 57,707) increase in salary!
By Himansu Kumar (Facebook)
Subject
Details of Discussion
IBA’s View / Conclusion
D.A. Formula
Revision of Dearness Allowance formula has been discussed at length since the CPI points under 1960-series are no longer compiled and the DA published. The DA payable is being arrived at after duly converting the Consumer Price Index (CPI) points compiled under 2001-series. UFBU has impressed upon the need to switch over to CPI 2001-series for payment of DA and revision of DA on monthly basis.
IBA said that they have to examine the matter in detail before responding.
Reimbursement of Hospitalisation Expenses:
Management wanted to know the response of the UFBU on introduction of Medical Insurance Scheme. UFBU constituents after elaborate discussions among the unions decided to have improvements in the present scheme and have it in-house rather than switching over to insurance especially in view of the difficulties faced wherever the insurance scheme is in operation. Hence, UFBU conveyed to IBA its disinclination towards introduction of Medical Insurance Scheme in place of the existing scheme for Reimbursement of Hospitalisation Expenses.
IBA suggested that whatever difficulties that are being envisaged could be discussed and sorted out and requested the UFBU to consider its view point.
Compassionate Appointments:
UFBU sought to know the developments in regard to Compassionate Appointments, since a long time has elapsed after sending recommendations of IBA on the Scheme to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
UFBU exhorted upon the need to finalise the matter immediately as it has been lingering on for many years without any resolution.
IBA informed that the matter is still pending with the Government.
Superannuation Cost:
UFBU demanded that the cost on superannuation and welfare measures should not be included in the cost of wage revision.
IBA said that they would examine the matter.
Five-day Week:
UFBU has insisted for introduction of 5-day week in the banking industry for the reason that after introduction of technology, various alternate channels like ATMs, Net Banking, etc. are widely available and being utilized by the customers and hence, it would not cause any inconvenience. Besides it is a common and growing phenomenon globally to have 5-day week to ensure better quality of life.
IBA assured to examine the matter.
Introduction of concepts of Cost-to-Company (CTC) and Variable Pay:
UFBU has conveyed unequivocally its opposition for the introduction of concepts of CTC and Variable Pay in the banking industry.
IBA SILENT ??
Wage Revision of officers:
Responding to the earlier stand taken by IBA to restrict negotiations in case of officers from Scale-I to Scale-III alone excluding officers from Scale-IV to VII, UFBU demanded that the negotiations should be held with the negotiating unions on wages and service conditions of all officers from Scale-I to Scale-VII as hitherto especially in view of the service conditions being common for all the categories and also to ensure relativity between the Scales.
IBA SILENT ??
Directions to work on Holidays declared under N.I. Act:
Most of the holidays declared for festivals in various States under N.I. Act differ from State to State resulting in most of the festivals days would happen to be a working day in one State or the other. After introduction of Cheque Truncation System (CTS) on grid basis, since there is no common holiday in the respective States connected under any grid, bank employees and officers are forced to work on festival days foregoing the holiday as well as the traditional rituals to be performed on those festival days adversely affecting their sentiments and social obligations. UFBU exhorted the need to delink the operations of CTS of a particular State from the Grid on the day in which it is declared a holiday under N.I. Act to enable the employees to follow their customs and perform the rituals as per their religions.
IBA SILENT ??
Similarly, on other holidays/Sundays, the Banks are directed to keep open their branches quoting the reason of continuous holidays or for accepting the Government challans/Tax payments. UFBU impressed upon IBA that in the present technological environment, with the availability of alternate channels like ATMs, Net Banking, etc. the necessity to keep open branches on holidays is obviated. Besides, it is becoming unproductive as the business that is being transacted is too low in relation to the expenditure being incurred by banks to work on a holiday.
IBA has appreciated the difficulties of the employees/officers and the reasons adduced by UFBU and assured to take up the matter with the authorities concerned.
Wage Revision and Increase in Wages
(A) UFBU wanted to know the response of IBA on the wage load and the offer of IBA on wage increase.
(B) UFBU expressed its concern in not holding the meetings on regular basis at frequent intervals and undue delay in the process of wage negotiations. UFBU expressed its dissatisfaction and insisted for expeditious wage settlement.
(A) IBA expressed its inability to respond in the absence of mandate from the authorities concerned.
(b) IBA SILENT ??
what is the criteria given by GoI to decide the post is Executives i.e.Scale-4 and above
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