Bank unions postpone proposed nationwide strike
The planned nationwide strike, initiated by the UFBU, was announced by the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) Nagaland for the banks in the state on Monday, which now stands postponed.
- KOHIMA — The
proposed 48-hour nationwide strike on March 24 and 25 by banks across India has
been deferred following a meeting between the Central Labour Commissioner and
the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on Friday.
- The planned nationwide strike, initiated by the UFBU, was
announced by the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) Nagaland for
the banks in the state on Monday, which now stands postponed.
- At the conciliation meeting on Friday, representatives of
the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the Department of Financial Services
(DFS) were also present, with the joint secretary of DFS joining virtually.
- He informed that the government of India is considering the
issue ‘with all sincere efforts’ and that the issue is ‘under discussion at the
government level.’
- The Chief Labour Commissioner assured that he would take up with the IBA
and DFS to consider five working days per week. He also assured of monitoring
the development at periodic intervals so that the matter may be resolved at an
early date.
- The CLC then requested the union representatives to consider
the request of withdrawing the strike—stating that it is neither in the interest
of employees nor the organisation, nor the nation as a whole.
- Accordingly, the representatives of UFBU agreed to defer and
postpone the planned strike.
- The next date of discussion has been convened on April
22—with the IBA advised to submit the progress report.
- Earlier, the UFBU, comprising nine banking unions, had
initiated the strike in response to its long-standing demands related to
recruitment, job security, and working conditions in the banking sector.
- Some of the key demands included adequate recruitment, a
five-day workweek, withdrawal of performance directives, safety of bank staff,
and Gratuity Act amendment.
