The Hindu Business Line : Govt calls IBA, unions for talks on Jan 22

New Delhi, Jan. 11 In an apparent bid to ensure that banking operations are not affected by the proposed countrywide strike by bank employees on January 25, the Centre has invited the representatives of the United Forum of Banking Unions (UFBU) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) for conciliatory talks on January 22.

Aggrieved over the Centre’s efforts to bring about merger of all the associate banks of State Bank of India (SBI) with the parent bank, the UFBU had last week decided to call a day-long strike on January 25 to protest against the planned merger and also to press for the resolution of their unmet demands including early settlement of wage revision and extension of one more option to join the pension scheme. About a million bank employees and officers from various banks are expected to participate in the day-long strike.

The strike call for January 25 coincides with the meeting of the boards of six associate banks on the same date to consider in-principle nod for their merger with SBI, which is the country’s largest commercial bank.

Banking industry sources said that the Union Labour Ministry has now intervened in the matter and that the Chief Labour Commissioner has convened a meeting on January 22 for talks.

Some members of Parliament have also urged the Central Government not to go ahead with the planned merger of associate banks with SBI. Besides the strike call for January 25, the UFBU has also decided to go for two days of strike on February 25 and 26. Apart from their demand that there should be no merger in PSBs, the unions have also sought adequate recruitments in banks. UFBU is also irked that bank employees are not getting one more option to join the pension scheme. Also on the wish list of UFBU is restoration of compassionate appointments.