New Delhi: Brace for a two-day bank strike next week.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on Monday officially called for a two-day nationwide strike on March 24 and 25 after discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) over key demands didn’t make desired headway.
Among the issues discussed were recruitment in all cadres, regularising temporary employees and a five-day work week across the banking industry, reported PTI.
Long-standing demands of UBFU — an umbrella body of nine bank employees’ associations — include filling up the workmen and officer director posts in public sector banks, resolving residual issues with the IBA and amending the Gratuity Act to raise the ceiling to Rs 25 lakh and align it with the scheme for government employees, and seeking exemption from income tax.
The bank unions also wanted that recent directives from Department of Financial Services (DFS) regarding performance reviews and performance-linked incentives be withdrawn.
UFBU opposed ‘micro-management’ of public sector banks by the DFS, alleging that such measures are a threat to job security and undermine autonomy of bank boards.
