Banking services hit as employees go on strike

Bhubaneswar: Financial services were affected across the state on Tuesday with around 5,000 branches of 21 public sector banks remaining shut owing to a nationwide strike called by United Forum Of Bank Unions (UFBU) to protest against the proposed reforms in banking sector.
Over 10 lakh bankers, working in 132,000 branches, joined the strike after talks between UFBU and the Indian Banks’ Association, Chief Labour Commissioner and the Department of Financial Services failed on Friday.
“We strongly oppose the central government’s decision to consolidate the public sector banks. It is unfortunate that the government wants to bring down the number of public sector banks in the country to around 10 through mergers and acquisitions. This would largely hit the livelihood of bank employees,” an agitator said.
The UFBU is an umbrella body of nine unions in the banking sector, including All India Bank Officers’ Confederation and All India Bank Employees’ Association.