Sending a strong signal to implement their 16-point charter of demands immediately, members of the Tamil Nadu Primary Cooperative Bank Employees' Association have threatened to go on an indefinite stir from January 7.
Speakers at the day-long token fast meeting held on Bypass Road, organised as a part of State-wide strike, insisted that the Tamil Nadu Government fulfil the demands as it was pending for a long time.
They pointed out that not just the serving staff but even those who had attained superannuation were not given many of the benefits. For instance, pension scheme and medical reimbursement should be settled in full without any arrears. There were plenty of anomalies in the government order on revision announced in November 2009, the agitators claimed.
Despite rise in prices of commodities and severe inflation, the staff had not received any hike in their wages. On the contrary, the staffs in the respective branches were forced to meet the expenses of officials, who visit under the guise of inspection. Service of many staffs, who have been working as daily wage earners, had not been regularised. The practical problems between the central cooperative bank and the primary cooperative banks in the issue of loans should be resolved for better functioning.
Many vacancies have not been filled and gold assessors in the branches who worked on commission basis should be considered for regular appointment. Promotions due to employees in many branches had not been cleared. District secretary A.M. Asiriya Devan said that in the event of non-implementation of their above demands, the federation would resort to a one-day stir on January 2, 2013 to draw the attention of the government. Again, if there were no signs of any settlement, from Jan 7 they would go on an indefinite stir, which would paralyse the normal functioning through out the State.
