The talks between State Bank of India employees and the bank management over revision in pension failed and unions said they would continue their nationwide indefinite strike.
The unions held two rounds of negotiations with SBI chairman A K Purwar in a bid to end the indefinite strike.
Earlier in the day, the unions moderated their demand for 50 per cent of their last drawn salary as pension up to assistant general manager level (Scale V) instead of the earlier demand for up to the general manager's level.
Besides Purwar, SBI managing director T S Bhattacharya was also present at the meeting with bank unions, represented by All India State Bank Officers Federation president Amar Pal and vice president H Y Mahanta, -India State Bank of India Staff Federation president Umesh Naik and general secretary P K Patnaik.
Holding Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram responsible for failure of talks, Pal told reporters that the management had raised the employees' hopes of an amicable solution but offered much less than what was demanded.
The union leader said the next option for them was to go on hunger strike, along with holding demonstrations.
"More unions of other banks were already showing solidarity to the strike and expected to join us," he said.
Apologising for the inconvenience caused to the customers, he said: "They too wanted to end the strike in public interest. However, the government does not seem to be interested in finding a solution."
About 210,000 employees in 9,000 branches of the bank across the country have been on an indefinite strike since April 3 in support of their demand for higher pension.Do you want to discuss stock tips? Do you know a hot one? Join the Stock Market Investments Discussion Group
