Employees of State Bank of Patiala protest by wearing black badges

Ludhiana, November 19, 2015: All India Bank Employees Association and State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA) has given a call  for agitational programmes and 2 days strike in Associate Banks on 1^st & 2^nd December 2015, Strike by AIBEA on 2^nd December 2015 followed by Indefinite strike in Associate Banks by end of Dec. 2015 followed by indefinite strike in all Banks.      

Today, employees of State Bank of Patiala protested by wearing black badges in front of State Bank of Patiala, Zonal office, Miller Ganj, Ludhiana. Com. Naresh Gaur, Secretary, All India State Bank o Patiala Employees Federation addressed the employees.

While addressing the employees, Com. Gaur said that there have been repeated attempts on the part of the SBI management to threaten closure of the Associate Banks and merge them with the SBI. AIBEA and SSBEA have been resisting these moves whenever it has surfaced. In fact the real need is to de-link these Associate Banks from SBI and make them stand-alone independent Banks to enable them to grow and progress to their optimum potential. There have been attempts to adversely and unilaterally amend the service conditions of the employees in the Associate Banks. Right of collective bargaining is one of the most significant achievement of AIBEA and it is a hallmark of our glorious movement.  But SBI management wants to crush and trample under foot this basic right of trade union.   Our service conditions in the Associate Banks have been achieved by AIBEA and governed through the industry-level bipartite settlements as well as by our internal settlement through SSBEA/Bankwise Unions.  Today SBI management wants to ignore and negate these settled service conditions and wants to impose the SBI service conditions which are not acceptable to the employees in the Associate Banks. Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926 enshrines and guarantees the right of workers to organise themselves into trade unions and outlines the safeguards to protect the right to bargain, negotiate and achieve betterments for the employees.  This act was achieved by the trade union movement of India but strangely today, this right of collective bargaining and right of representation is being denied and repudiated by the SBI management. 

Staff housing loan limits have been increased in every other Bank.  But the same old limits are continued in the Associate Banks.  Why?  Are the employees of Associate Banks any sinners ?  Are they second class citizens in the banking industry?  Housing Loan limit has been improved upon for the officers in the Associate Banks but not for the Award staff.  Why this discrimination? Govt. of India has given their guidelines that housing loan limit can be fixed by individual Banks. Whether Associate Banks are out of coverage of Government guidelines? We demand that housing loan limits of workmen employees of Associate Banks should also be upwardly raised. Due to the efforts of prolonged agitation by AIBEA/UFBU, a revised Compassionate groundappointments Scheme on the lines of Central Government scheme has been approved by the Government for implementation in all the public sector banks from 5-8-2014.  Government informed IBA that they have approved the proposal (i) To open the Compassionate Appointment in PSBs on the lines of Central Government and (ii) Discontinuing the provision of ex-gratia in lieu of Compassionate Appointment in PSBs.  Government advised all PSBs to place the Scheme before the Boards of all PSBS and get it approved.  IBA vide their Circular dated 14-8-2014 sent the detailed Scheme to all PSBs.  But till today, this Government/IBA approved Scheme has not been placed before the Board in the Associate Banks.  On the other hand, despite the protest of our unions, a different scheme denying compassionate appointment and providing for Ex Gratia amount has been introduced by the Associate Banks.  Since Associate Banks are all Public Sector Banks, the Government approved Scheme should be introduced.  

In SBI, there is a separate Career Progression policy which provides for enhanced passing powers, higher level of duties, more working hours and some additional financial benefits.  When SSBEA is demanding increase in housing loan limit and implementation of compassionate ground appointment scheme, SBI management is trying to twist the arms of our unions by making their Career Progression policy as a pre-condition for any discussions on any of the issues raised by SSBEA.  In SBI, Career Progression policy has been implemented as per the Settlement reached with the Union in SBI.  But in the case of Associate Banks, bilateralism is avoided and SBI management wants to unilaterally force their Scheme. SBI is a major share- holder in the Associate Banks but this does not mean that SBI is the owner of the Associate Banks.  Associate Banks are all separate entities and are part of the public sector banks in our country.  But Government guidelines are not being implemented whereas illegally SBI service conditions are sought to be implemented.  Instead of coming forward to negotiate with SSBEA and our unions, recently SBI management has sent a fiat to all Associate Banks instructing them implement SBI Career progression policy.  This means that SBI management does not care for bilateralism, does not believe in discussions with the union, does not want to abide by law, does not respect bipartite settlement and wants to move unilaterally, arbitrarily, discriminatingly, illegally and dictatorially against the interest of the employees of Associate Banks.

Comrades, a serious situation has emerged before us. Bilateralism is given a go-bye. Unilateralism is sought to be made the rule.  Law is ignored. Trade Union rights are overlooked.  There is no option for us than to fight back the attempts of the SBI management. 

Com. A.K.Chhibber, Vice President, State Bank of Patiala Employees Union, Com. Parveen  Moudgil, Vice President, All India State Bank of Patiala Employees Federation, Com. Jagan Nath Makhija, Organising Secretary, Com. Narekesar Rai, Regional Secretary and Com. Rahul Khanna, Central Committee Member, State Bank of Patiala Employees Union were also present.