The bank strike called by the United Forum for Bank Unions (UBFU) completely paralysed all banking activities across the district on Friday.
Part of a nation-wide strike, it was called to oppose the current reforms introduced in the banking sector and the merger of associate banks with State Bank of India.
A senior official told The Hindu that not only the award staff i.e. employees below the officers’ cadre who handle cash and carryout the routine duties, but even the officers have gone on strike and hence all the 507 branches of various banks in the district remained shut.
R. Raghavendra, Workman Director who also represents the employees on the SBM Board, said the strike was also against introduction of FDI in the banking industry and outsourcing, all of which, he said, was inimical to the banking industry in the long run.
About 1,000 bank employees from various banks and different branches assembled in front of the Zonal Office of the State Bank of Mysore and staged a demonstration to protest the government’s reform move in the banking sector. Though the merger exercise has already been set in motion and it is reckoned to be a matter of time before the process is completed, the employees are making a last-ditch effort to stall it.
Meanwhile, trade and industrial bodies have expressed concern over the situation and have pointed out that frequent strike by bank employees had a negative impact on the economy. “Because of the strike on Friday followed by the Karnataka bandh called by various organisations on the Mahadayi issue, and Sunday being a weekly holiday, trade and commerce will take a severe hit’’, said Suresh Kumar Jain of the Mysore Industries Association.
