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Bank staff and officers protesting outside the premises of the SBI in Kohima on May 30.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima, May 30 (EMN): Employees of the public sector banks in Nagaland joined one million bank employees across the country in a two-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU) to protest to what it called ‘meager offer of 2% hike’ in salary. The 48 hours continuous strike, which began this morning May 30 at 6 am, will go on till 6 am on June 1.
Addressing demonstrators comprising bank staff and officers in the premises of Kohima's State Bank of India branch (SBI), SBI Staff Association (SBISA) northeast circle's Vice President A Lolly Moses alleged that 'delay tactics' of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in resolving the demands is ‘sucking the blood’ of the employees.
Referring to their being 'the lowest paid organization,' Moses maintained that the government of India should listen to the voice of the bank employees. The demonstration, he said, was nothing 'but fighting for our survival and for our rights to get our due share.’ He cautioned that if the government fails to listen to the employees, they might be left with no option but to go on an indefinite strike the next time.
The public sector banks are opposing the IBA’s delay in resolving the demands; the government’s approach to wage revision for bank employees and officers; the IBA’s meagre offer of 2 % hike in wage bill towards wage increase, and a reported 'partial mandate' given by some of the banks only up to scale III officers.
The demands include expeditious and early wage revision settlement, adequate increase in salary, improvement in other service conditions, and wage revision settlement that would include all officers up to scale VII.
