New Delhi: Public sector bank employees have decided to go on a 4-day strike from January 21 to protest against the "rigid and callous attitude" of Central Government in resolving the long pending wage revision issue, a senior union leader said.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given a strike call from January 21 to January 24, 2015 to put pressure on the Indian Bank Association (IBA) for 25 per cent enhancement in their wages. Given that January 25 is Sunday and January 26, Republic Day, this would effectively mean that banks would remain close to six full days. The strike call still stands and is not deferred till date.
This means that those who need to make use of banking services in the next few days should go ahead immediately.
Earlier, it was decided to hold 1 day strike on January 7, which was deferred on the request of IBA to find out an amicable solution, All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) State Secretary Deepak Kumar Sharma said.
The decision is in response to the strike call given by United Forum of Bank Unions, which has more than ten lakh employees and officers of banking Industry under its umbrella.
"As there was no fresh proposal of hike from the side of IBA during this period, UFBU has decided to go ahead with the 4-day strike which will have the impact of 6 days as 25th is Sunday and 26th January is national holiday," Sharma added.
The wage revision for bank employees is due from November one, 2012, he said.
UFBU has been requesting, since the start of negotiations, a time-bound approach to hold the negotiations on its demands and for conclusion of wage settlement within a reasonable time but there is no significant progress in the wage negotiations despite a lapse of two years' time, he said.
He claimed that despite disparity in wages and hardships of unlimited working hours, the employees of the banking industry, the backbone of the economy, are denied their due share.
Sharma said this was despite the workers being recognised by all for achieving all National/Social objectives set before them including opening of Jan-Dhan Yojna Accounts".
He said the Public Sector bank employees have also decided to go on an indefinite strike from March 16 onwards and that the notice in this regard has already been served by UFBU to the IBA.
