New Delhi: Bank unions have called off next week’s two-day strike after receiving assurances from the Union Finance Ministry and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) about their demands, including a five-day work week and adequate recruitment in all cadres.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine bank employees’ associations, had called a nationwide strike on March 24 and 25.
The decision to defer the strike was taken before the Chief Labour Commissioner, who had called a meeting of all stakeholders on Friday, reported PTI.
Representatives of the Finance ministry and IBA assured that all demands raised by the unions will be deliberated upon.
Among UFBU’s demands was immediate withdrawal of a recent directive by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) on performance review and performance-linked incentives (PLI).
“IBA proposed to further discuss issues like recruitment and PLI and other issues. The Chief Labour Commissioner informed that he will directly monitor the issues including implementation of 5 days banking,” said C H Venkatachalam, general secretary of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), one of the members of UFBU.
The Chief Labour Commissioner has set April 22 as the next date of hearing and asked IBA to submit the progress report on UFBU’s demands.
10-point demands of Bank Unions
1. Sufficient recruitment in all job cadres across banks to provide adequate branch staffing and improve customer service in the industry
2. Regularisation of all temporary employees working in the banking sector
3. Five-day work week for all banks, aligning with other sectors like the RBI, insurance companies, and the government
4. Withdrawal of directives related to performance reviews and the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, as these threaten job security, create divisions among employees, violate the Eighth Joint Note, and undermine the autonomy of Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
5. Adequate safety measures for bank officers and staff against assaults and abuses by unruly public members
6. Fill vacant workmen/officer/director posts in PSBs
7. Resolve pending issues with IBA
8. Amend Gratuity Act to increase the ceiling to ₹25 lakh, making it similar to the government employees schemes, with exemption to income tax
9. Top outsourcing of permanent jobs within banking sector
10. Halt any unfair labour practices in the banking industry.
