CIRCULAR/GS/2013/030

CIRCULAR/GS/2013:030                                                        Date: 30.11.2013

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                  PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

UNDUE DELAY IN WAGE NEGOTIATIONS -

ALL INDIA STRIKE ON 19^th DEC 2013

We append the text of communication received from our Confederation and the contents are self explicit.

“A meeting of the United Forum of Bank Unions was held on 20th November 2013.The developments in the areas of wage negotiations, reform policies of the Government in the banking sector, the speed with which the Government is proceeding in implementation of reforms were reviewed and extensive deliberations were made on the issues confronting the bank employees.

The meeting noted with concern, the lackadaisical attitude of the Government/IBA in the area of wage negotiations that resulted in inordinate delay in the process of negotiations. Taking into consideration the insignificant progress in the process of negotiations despite a lapse of more than a year since commencement of the process and the financial pressure on employees due to high inflation, the representatives of all constituent of UFBU unanimously decided to press the demands through agitation programmes including strike action as there is no positive response from the Government/IBA to settle the 10th Bipartite Wage Settlement at the earliest.

The meeting also expressed its strong protest against the various measures being taken by the Government and Reserve Bank of India in the name of financial reforms in as much as the proposals like allowing foreign banks to enter India in a big way with near ‘national treatment’, which would enable them to take over our banks, the discussion paper released by RBI recently on Banking Structure in India and the thinking of RBI to consider granting of licenses to open Private and Foreign Banks under New Bank Licensing Policy, etc., are designed to eliminate the public sector character in the Country which are not in the interests of general public, who have faith and feel more secured with the Public Sector Banks.

Further, the meeting condemned the recent decision of NABARD to convert the Primary Agriculture Co-operatives as Business Correspondents  of District Co-operative Credit Banks, thereby around 2.2 lac permanent employees working in PACs would be affected and adopted a resolution extending solidarity support to the agitating employees of PACs.

Considering all the above aspects, the meeting decided to give a call for

All India Bank Strike for one day on 19th December 2013 demanding

 IMMEDIATE WAGE REVISION

 TO STOP BANKING REFORMS

The representatives of all the constituents of UFBU further decided to meet on 23rd December 2013 to review the position and chalk out further agitation programmes, if need be.

Friends, there is no significant progress in the 10th Bipartite Wage negotiations even though it was initially assured by IBA to conclude the wage negotiation process at the earliest. It is disappointing to note that even the rate of increase is not yet offered by the negotiating authorities despite the lapse of more than a year. We are left with no option except to resort to agitation programmes including strike action.

Friends, let us march on with all the strength at our command and make agitation programmes a grand success not only to achieve reasonable wage increase at the earliest but also to thwart the anti-public and anti-national moves of the policymakers in the name of financial reforms.”

WITH WARM GREETINGS                                   

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)                           

GENERAL SECRETARY