Banking operations in Tamil Nadu came to a standstill following the two-day strike called by United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella organisation for nine bank employees unions, against a slew of issues, including banking sector reforms, implementation of the Khandelwal Committee report and closure of rural branches.
All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said in Tamil Nadu, a total of 70,000 employees and officers working in 7,200 banks participated in the strike.
Hundreds of bank employees attended a demonstration by the unions in Chennai.
Mr. Venkatachalam said barring the employees of new generation banks, employees of all private banks took part in the strike, which was timed with the introduction of Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2011 in Parliament on Wednesday.
He said the Bill aimed at banking regulation would actually go against the interest of the nationalised banks that saved the country during global economic crisis.Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) general secretary C.P. Krishnan said that if the recommendations of the Khandelwal committee were implemented it would see the end of trade union movement in the banking sector.
