Bank employees’ strike, in response to the call given by United Forum Bank Unions comprising nine unions, continued on the second day on Thursday hitting bank transactions.
The striking employees gathered at the SBH Zonal Office at Dwarakanagar and staged a protest.
Addressing the striking employees, the union leaders opposed the Khandelwal Committee recommendations stating that it had favoured more and more outsourcing for non-core activity reducing manpower accordingly.
UFBU Visakhapatnam district convener J.P. Sarma described it as an attempt to reduce permanent employees.
Lack of accountability on their part would hit customer service and their interests, he said.
He also charged the government with deviating from its earlier norm of opening a branch for 2,000 population and trying to relocate or close such branches as a part of new strategy since they were not earning profit.
The leaders who spoke also opposed the proposed amendments to the banking laws alleging that its ‘adverse features’ were aimed at handing over control of banking industry to the private sector.
The employees who were on a two-day strike on Wednesday and Thursday want an amicable settlement to compassionate appointment scheme, extension of pension option to certain sections of retired employees, five-day banking and regulated working hours.
Union leaders P.S. Malleswara Rao, I. Kesava Rao, T. Seshagiri Rao, C.A.S. Prabhakar, Sambasiva Rao, K. Kamalakar, R.V. Ravi Kumar and K. Ramachandra Rao spoke.
