Operations at public sector and old generation private sector bank branches across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh were impacted on Tuesday with the employees participating in a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions.
“From passbook updation, cheque clearance to loan disbursements, no work was possible,” UFBU Convenor (Telangana and Andhra Pradesh) V.V.S.R. Sarma said.
New generation private sector banks, however, functioned as usual, while there were no reports of ATMs running out of cash.
A body comprising five workmen unions and four officers associations, UFBU had called for the strike mainly against banking reforms. The set of demands and issues it sought to highlight, in its second such protest this year, included write off of corporate NPAs and increase in bank charges.Regional Rural Bank staffers also participated in the strike, while RBI employees in Hyderabad conducted a lunch hour demonstration in solidarity. A rally organised at Koti here was addressed by various leaders, including that of insurance employees association, he said.
More in store
As a show of strength, the strike assumes significance in the backdrop of the ongoing wage negotiations.
The five-year bipartite wage settlement, 11th in the series, is effective from November 1. As per a combined charter of demands submitted to the Indian Banks’ Association, the unions are demanding a 35% increase in wages.
Mr.Sarma said the next course of action both on the issues raised in the strike or that related to wages would be decided by UFBU’s apex body.
Although the government was keen on IBA concluding the negotiations in time, it was easier said then with some banks yet to give IBA mandate to negotiate on their behalf with the unions.
Unlike in the past when wages of all employees and officers, up to Scale VII, formed part of the settlement, the negotiations this time were limited to the Middle Management level employees or Scale III.
One of the demands that is likely to be accepted, Mr. Sarma said, is a five-day week for banks. In the last settlement, the two sides agreed on two Saturdays in a month — 2nd and 4th — being holidays and remaining Saturdays full working days. The five-day week proposal, if implemented, would be compensated by the employees putting in around 4-5 hours extra in a month, he added.
