Doubts On AIBOC Leaders On wage Talks Result

AIBOC and Other Union Leaders Need to Respond to Mr Saha's Queries-By Rajesh Goyal  
( source allbankingsolutions.com)

Today (24th January, 2014), I have come across a letter (dated 23/01/2014) written by  Mr Dilip Saha, General Secretary of PNB unit of AIBOC  to the General Secretary of AIBOC at national level.   Before I give my comments, I would like to quote the letter in full so that our readers who have NOT come across this letter also know the details of the same :-

" The General Secretary

All India Bank Officers’ Confederation
C/o Bank of India, PTI Bldg,
4, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi 110001

Dear Comrade,

Re:     Progress on wage Revision talks - anxious queries, comments & feed back from our members.

We congratulate you for coming out with a Circular on 22.01.2014 on steps taken on wagerevision  to  assuage  the  feeling  of  the  officers  in  general  and  the  young  direct  recruitofficers in particular.

Departing from the nomenclature of all previous settlements where the  ‘wage load’ wasoffered by IBA, this time the offer is based on Pay Slip component which has created huge misunderstanding amongst officers’ community. We are now living in the era of technologyexplosion  and  every  bit  is  lapped  up  by  the  tech  savvy  officers  and  as  per  their understanding of the issue rumors are spread. Not responding or not giving clarification only adds to the confusion resulting into negatives being spread.

We understand the nuances of the art of negotiation and also understand that a running commentary can’t be played out to the public on every bit of negotiation process.

However, we have already published the  ‘Charter of Demand’ where Grade Pay concept,Differential on Promotion, HRA as per 6^th Pay commission, higher CCA and a hoard of otherbenefits including higher FPP, PQP etc. has been demanded. Since all these form part of  Pay  Slip  component,  even  an  improved  percentage  hike  in  pay  slip  component  from present  offer  may  not  be  enough  to  achieve  the  desired  goal  which  has  given  an
impression to the members that we are abandoning the Charter of Demand mid way.

We have already impressed upon our members that the merger of DA at 4440 points has been achieved by negotiating team is in line with earlier settlements and decent.

We have also informed our members that the decision to defer the strike of  20^th &  21^st January 2014 in view of increased offer of 9.5% in Pay Slip component with assurance of further talks on 27th January 2014 is a logical step.

However, an interesting piece of information has been in circulation about the “Deferment of Strike for 20^th & 21^st January, 2014”. It is said that while the formal decision to defer the strike was conveyed only after the meeting of  17^th January  2014, the IBA had, in fact, drafted  the  letter  dated 17^th  January, 2014  addressed  to  all  Banks  communicating deferment of strike, as early as on 14^th January, 2014 (after the meeting with CLC), which is evident from the relevant link on the IBA Website that shows the PDF file was created on 14^th  January  2014  itself.  If whatever  is made  out  to  be  in  this matter  is  to  be believed, it shows the confidence of IBA in persuading UFBU to defer Strike by offering  a  9.5%  increase.    This  has  created  a  lot  of  confusion  &  anxiety  amongst members. The website which has posted this information, has, in fact, called the whole issue as having been “fixed”. Further, one news website has quoted leader of one of the  constituent of UFBU saying "We are satisfied with the IBA offer made at today's meeting.

So we have deferred the strike,”

In this back ground, it is, therefore required that AIBOC should immediately clarify on the issue as it relates to credibility of the whole negotiation process.

We  reproduce  all  your  circulars  and  communications  to  our  members  and  therefore, request  you  to  share  more  information/  clarification  as  possible  with  regard  to  wage negotiation with affiliates so that efforts made by AIBOC can be highlighted by us to the masses.

Thanking you,

Yours Comradely,

Sd/-

Dilip Saha

                        General Secretary "

At the outset I would like to congratulate Mr Saha for the bold approach taken by him in sharing his thoughts with his constituency of bankers.  Although I never had interaction with him, yet the frankness reflected by him in his above letter gives me confidence about the transparent manner of his dealings.   I hope our readers too will agree with me and applaud him for his action.

However, the above circular has brought to light few new revelations / reminded some existing issues.  Let me share the same with our readers:-

(a) The confusion relating to the definition of "Pay Slip Component" is not merely at the general banker level, but even the General Secretary of the unit of AIBOC is not aware of the same.  Thus, either it is a closely guarded secret between IBA and UFBU leaders or IBA is yet to spell the same.  In both cases, this is very dangerous as the lack of the basic basis of settlement can be easily tweaked by IBA later on (as it happened in last BPS when resignees, VRS optees were denied 2nd pension option and they have to run to Courts to get justice).   Bankers can not believe on IBA, which has time and again ditched bankers in interpretation of various issues.   They do not have clean track record in this regard.   Mr Saha is absolutely right when he says that the details of the same be made public so that confusion and rumors can be put to rest.  Initially I thought that only I am not aware of the same as may be I am a novice, but the above circular gives me a solace that actually it is not known to even union people at the top of the individual banks.

(b) The above letter also indicates that the writings on the social media have great impact and now union leaders have realised that they need to respond to people's discussions or soon they will face wrath of the aam banker.  Individual union leaders need to confirm that there was no Match Fixing and the reasons behind preparation of the letter by IBA at least 3 days in advance to actual talks.    If necessary, they can even ask IBA as to the reasons for preparing the letter in advance or let IBA issue a press release clarifying their stand.    A convincing reply can restore the credibility of the negotiations but failure to do so can become a permanent bloat on them and will never absolve them from the charge of Match Fixing.   I hope AIBOC and other unions will give their independent views on the issue.

(c) Mr Saha has rightly reminded all of us about the Charter of Demands placed by various unions.   [I give here a link to the Charter of Demands by officer unions which was uploaded by us on 8th November, 2012 and still available at our website  :  CHARTER OF DEMAND BY  OFFICERS'  UNIONS - AIBOC, AIBOA, INBOC, NOBO (updated version uploaded on 8/11/2012).  I would like the readers to once again download the same and read it.  I would like to quote here the demand relating to merger of DA which reads in the Charter of Demands as under :-

"We propose that the average consumer price index for industrial workers for the quarter ending 30th September 2012 which was 4876 (1960=100) (rounded off) be taken for the purpose of merger of Dearness Allowance for construction of Scales".  

Readers know it well that UFBU has already caved in to the IBA's offered to merge only upto 4440 index instead of 4876 as demanded in the above referred Charter of Demands.  Thus, they have failed to convince IBA merge DA as per their rightful demand.

Moreover, they have demanded neutralization at 125% instead of 100%.  Let us wait whether UFBU will be able to put up his case strongly at the next meeting to be held on 27th January, 2014.  By accepting merger of DA at lower levels, the neutralization will automatically be below 100%. 

Mr Saha has taken the right initiative and we will be waiting whether national level AIBOC leadership replies to the questions raised above or ducks such questions as they have been doing in the past.  I hope this time will be exception and they will put to rest various rumors floating in the banking industry.