The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Stir hits banking activity

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Thursday, Sep 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Stir hits banking activity

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Banking activity in the State came to a standstill on day one of the two-day strike by bank employees on Wednesday.

Nearly 85,000 bank employees in the State participated in the strike, which was called by the United Forum of Bank Employees (UFBU), the platform formed by the nine major unions of officers and workmen in the industry. In Bangalore, bank employees staged a demonstration at the main office of the State Bank of India.

Vasant Rai, general secretary, Karnataka Pradesh Bank Employees’ Federation, said about 60,000 workmen and 20,000 officers employed in public sector banks participated in the strike. In addition, about 5,000 employees working in old generation private banks and foreign banks also struck work. He pointed out that employees of some of the foreign banks, who usually stayed away from strike action fearing “victimisation,” participated actively in the strike.

Mr. Rai said workers and officers participated “in some form of protest action or other during the day across the State.” In some places there were demonstrations, in some others there were rallies or dharnas, he said.

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