10 lakh bank employees to participate in nationwide strike on Wednesday

Moneylife Digital Team 01 September 2015

Due to the strike call given by unions on 2 September 2015, banking activities including clearing operations will be affected besides hampering normal banking activities across the country

Almost 10 lakh bank employees and officers from public sector banks (PSBs), private sector banks, foreign banks, regional rural banks and co-operative banks would participate in the nation-wide strike called by trade unions on Wednesday.

All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and 13 other unions from banks would observe a strike on 2 September 2015, against the anti-labour, anti-people policies of the Central Government and in support of the call given by the Central Trade Unions in the country," says Vishwas Utagi, Vice President of AIBEA.

"Because of the bank strike on 2 September 2015, banking activities including clearing operations will be affected and normal banking activities will be hampered. The strike has been forced on the Unions by the Government's adamant and anti-labour policies," he added

Mr Utagi said, there are increasing attacks on the workers on their rights and privileges and encouragement and concessions are being extended to the employers in our country. There are open attempts to amend the various labour laws in favour of the employers and to the detriment of the workers. The neo-liberal economic policies are only aggravating the problems of the workers and common masses, he added.

According to the unions, in the banking industry, there are continuous attempts to push through the reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of Banks. "More and more private capital and foreign direct investment (FDI) are being encouraged. Private sector companies are being allowed license to start banking business. Regional Rural Banks are sought to be privatised and the Bill has been passed by the Government in the Parliament despite protests by our Unions. Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACs) are under threat of winding up. Urban Co-operative Banks are under threat of delicensing. Private sector executives are imposed on the public sector banks. All the Government schemes are being imposed on the Banks without proper infrastructure and manpower resulting harassment and problems faced by the bank staff. Permanent and regular jobs are being outsourced on contract basis and contract employees are being exploited," Mr Utagi said in a release.

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