Financial services were crippled in Mysuru and surrounding districts on Tuesday consequent to the strike by bank employees opposing labour reforms besides seeking removal of ceiling on gratuity.
The strike was part of a nation-wide one-day agitation called by various associations and unions of bank employees under the United Forum of Bank Unions, in support of their long-pending demands.
The bank employees gathered in front of the Zonal Office of the State Bank of Mysore and raised slogans against the policies being pursued by the government, dubbed it as “anti-people banking’’ and condemned what they described as “infringing on trade union rights’’.
The employees also opposed the merger of the associated banks with the State Bank of India but their key issue revolved around removal of ceiling on gratuity under Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, exemption of Income Tax on gratuity and leave encashment on retirement, adequate recruitment of staff, immediate introduction of 5-day banking, and improvement in pension schemes on the lines of RBI or the Central Government.
There are 512 branches of various banks in the district and nearly 3,000 employees, most of whom stayed away from work and this included those drawn from officers’ cadre as also clerical staff. However, employees of the regional rural cooperative banks did not participate in the strike.
Officials said the one-day stir would have little public impact as ATMs had been replenished though industries and businessmen keen on cash withdrawals beyond the stipulated limits in the ATMs were affected.
