Shillong, March 17: Meghalaya Unit of Forum of Bank Unions has joined the all India bank strike for 2 days from the midnight of March 23 to midnight of March 25.
Announcing the strike on Monday, the Meghalaya state unit said that since the management or the government are not coming forward to settle pending issues, the agitation and strike has been forced on them.
The demands as stated by Meghalaya Unit
Need for adequate recruitment in banks: ‘Banks are public utility organizations serving large number of people of our country on a daily basis. Hence banks to be provided with adequate staff to serve the customers and general banking public. But in the last one decade and more, we find that the banks are not recruiting adequate staff in the banks.
Hence there is acute shortage of staff in the branches and hence employees are unable to extend satisfactory customer services. Public sector banks are implementing all the schemes of the government and PSBs are not provided with sufficient staff to serve the customers. Hence, we demand that adequate recruitments should be made to provide sufficient staff in all branches to extend satisfactory customer services and to reduce the undue workload on the existing staff’.
Delay in introducing 5-day Working per week in banks:
‘In the entire financial sector including RBI, Insurance companies, etc., they are following 5 days of working per week. In government also it is 5 days of working. Even in many private sectors including IT sector, it is 5 days of working in a week. Hence, we demanded 5 days of working per week in banks also. Indian banks agreed to the same and recommended to the government one year ago but still the issue is pending with the government. Hence, we are demanding implementation of 5-day working in bank without any further delay’.
Other demands: ‘Similarly, we have other important demands like immediate withdrawal of the recent unilateral instructions of the government on monthly review of efficiency of staff, modifications in the incentive scheme without any discussions with the unions, safety of bank officers/ staff against the assault/ abuses by unruly banking public, filling up the post of workmen/ officers, directors in PSBs remaining vacant for the past 10 years, resolution of residual issues pending with IBA, amending gratuity act to increase the ceiling to Rs 25 lakh on the lines of scheme for government employees along with exemption from income tax, not to recover income tax on staff welfare benefits given to employees and officers on concessional terms, maintaining a minimum of 51% of equity capital in IDBI Bank by government, stopping micromanagement of PSBs by DFS on policy matters affecting service conditions of employees and officers and undermining bilateralism, stopping outsourcing permanent jobs in banks on contract basis, stopping unfair labour practices in banking Industry, etc..
Adequate recruitment in all cadres, regularize all temporary employees, immediate withdrawal of the recent DFS/govt. directives on performance review and PLI, which threaten job security which create division and discrimination among employees and officers and violate the 8th joint note, and undermine PSB’s autonomy.
The forum also wanted amendment to Gratuity Act to increase the ceiling to Rs 25 lakh on the lines of scheme for government employees along with exemption from income tax, and urged the Centre not to cover income tax on staff welfare benefits given to employees and officers on concessional terms and management should bear the same.
Maintain a minimum of 51% of equity capital in IDBI Bank by government, stop micromanagement of PSBs by DFS on policy matters affecting service conditions of employees and officers and undermining bilateralism are also the demands.
The forum wanted a ban on outsourcing permanent jobs in banks and unfair labour practices in banking industry.
