Bank employees stir to hit banking services

Chennai:

Banking services in public sector banks and several private sector banks across Chennai is likely to be hit from Wednesday as employees and members belonging to United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) will go on a two-day strike from August 22.

More than 55,000 to 75,000 bank employees from the state are expected to join the two-day nation-wide stir against proposed Banking Law (amendments) Bill, which is expected to come up in the parliament during the monsoon session, and several other issues, the convenor of  Tamil Nadu UFBU C M Baskaran told reporters here on Tuesday.

He said more than 10 lakh bank employees and officers in public sector, private and foreign banks across the nation will be taking part in the stir. “Bank employees in the city will be staging a massive protest at the memorial hall tomorrow,” he said.

Interestingly, the stir is likely to affect ATMs as it will generate panic among the people who would rush to withdraw money, reveal bank employees. Some ATMs across the city were filled with cash in the evening.

Baskaran said unions are also opposing the move by banks to close loss making rural branches. This will affect the poor farmers who are dependent on banks for loans besides the move is against the financial inclusion move by government, Baskaran said.

He also said that the unions are opposing the move by government to grant licences to corporate houses to start a private bank with a capital of Rs 500 crore.

All India Bank Employees Association,All India Bank Officers Confederation, National Confederation of Bank
Employees, All India Bank Officers Officers Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, India National Bank Employees Federation, Indian National Bank Officers Congress, National Organisation of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers are part of the United Forum of Bank Unions.

The employees are also opposing arbitrary guidelines on HR issues, implementation of Khandelwal Committee recommendations and outsourcing of bank jobs etc.