Bank employees hold massive demonstration in front of Canara Bank

Ludhiana, December 3, 2014: As per decision, United Forum of Bank Unions (Unit  Ludhiana) today observed one day strike and held a massive demonstration  in front of Canara Bank, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana. Com P.R.Mehta, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation, Com Naresh Gaur, Convener, United Forum of Bank Unions,  Com Gulshan Chauhan, Com J.P.Kalra, (All India Bank Officers’ Confederation), Com D.C.Landra (NCBE),  Com Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana Unit) and Com Rakesh Khanna,  Associate Banks Officers' Association (Unit State Bank of Patiala),  Com D.P.Maur, General Secretary, Joint Council of Trade Unions and Dr Rajinder Pal Aulakh, President, Agriculture Technocrats addressed the bank employees.   

While addressing the bank employees, leaders of the Forum said that the strike of November 12 was a befitting reply to the alleged rigid approach of Indian Banks' Association (IBA). Two years are over and even though 14 rounds of negotiations have taken place, the talks have not been concluded as the IBA is not coming forward to reach an amicable settlement. The demand for wage increase has become more justified and logical in the context of price rise and continuing inflation. But IBA is offering a wage hike of only 11% over the existing payslip cost on the ground that the Banks' profits are coming down. 

Thus the total profits are increasing but obviously net profit is less due to provision for bad loans which burden should not be passed on to the shoulders of the ordinary employees. In fact, the Unions have assured that we can find out the ways and means to recover the bad loans through stringent measures and improve the profits through better productivity etc but it is unfair to deny their legitimate wage crease. The IBA needs to substantially improve their offer and finalise the settlement at the earliest. Unions would reciprocate with their flexibility and the same has been assured to them. But delaying the settlement will aggravate the anxiety amongst the employees and Unions would be compelled to intensify the agitation, they warned. 

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