The relay hunger strike launched by the members of Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Officers Association (APGVBOA) and Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank Employees Union (APGVBEU) entered the second day here on Tuesday. They are demanding equal pay scales on par with the employees of commercial banks. The general secretaries of APGVBOA and APGVBEU – N.Prakasham and K.Bikshamaiah - garlanded the employees on hunger strike.
‘Bank registering
good growth’
They said though the bank registered a considerable growth, the employees continue to be discriminated.
Following a Supreme Court Order, the Central Government directed the management to ensure parity in wages and allowances to the rural bank staff on par with commercial banks but the management is yet to act on it, Bikshamaiah said.
The employees are demanding among others things - reimbursement of conveyance/petrol bill on par with commercial banks, promotions to all the staff, including scale-5 promotions, enhancement of wages to a minimum of Rs.15,000 per month to daily wagers and to make the APGVB an associate member in Indian Banks Association.
They are also demanding restoration of graduation increments to newly recruited office assistants, cutting down interest rates on staff loans, sabbatical leave to women employees and officers as per Central Government guidelines and payment of MSP arrears to ex-servicemen.
They threatened to go on a one-day strike in January if the management fails to respond to the issues.
