Banks threaten indefinite strike

Accusing the labour ministry of "playing hide and seek" with their demands, the bank unions on Tuesday threatened to go on an indefinite strike.

"We may be forced to go for an indefinite strike if our demands are not met," Delhi convenor of United Forum of Bank Unions V K Gupta told reporters while announcing Wednesday's strike to protest the government's "anti-labour" policies.

Shantha Raju, general secretary of The All India Bank Officers Confederation, told PTI that the discussions would be held with other unions and if they decide to go on an indefinite strike, then AIBOC would also join.

Bank unions are protesting against the changes proposed by the Centre in Trade Union Act, Industrial Disputes Act allowing hire and fire policy, Banking Regulation Act providing for privatisation and opening up services sector to foreign direct investment.

Employees owing allegiance to Centre of Indian Trade Unions and All-India Trade Unioin Congress in the Reserve Bank of India, insurance sector and public sector, including the state electricity board had expressed their solidarity for the one-day strike.

The Reserve Bank Employees Association confirmed that it will take part in the general strike, even as the officers decided not to join the stir.

On the labour minister's stance, Gupta said, "Everytime we sent notices for strike, the copy went to the ministry but still no response was received."

Of the nine major bank unions, five of them -- All India Bank Employees Association, AIBOC, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers Association and Bank Employees Federation of India -- would take part in Wednesday's strike.

While Congress-supported Indian National Bank Officers Congress and Indian National Bank Employees Congress and the Bhartiya Majdoor Sangh-supported National Organisation of Bank Officers and National Organisation of Bank Workers will not participate in the strike, the other unions will join the agitation.

"The new labour laws and reforms initiated by the government have led to joblessness in the country", AIBOC deputy general secretary T N Goel said, adding clearing operations to the tune of Rs 70,000-80,000 crore (Rs 700-Rs 800 billion) will be affected on the day of the strike.

He said the banks fully supported the fight against moves to privatise pension funds.

It will be for the second time this year that banking operations will be hit following the decision of the banks to join the agitation of the trade unions against "anti-labour policies".

In a statement, the AlBEA demanded that the Centre give up moves to privatise the banks saying, "It is fraught with danger as the corporate sector, keen to takeover, will not repay huge chunks of money they owe to nationalised banks."

BMS leaders said the strike was politically motivated and was in no way related to the demands of bank employees.

The ATM services, however, would continue despite the strike though these facilities at Kolkatta are likely to be affected.