Indian Banks' Association Plans Nationwide Strike On Budget Day Over Revision On January 31

Bank unions have called for a two-day nationwide strike on January 31 and February 1 after negotiations with Indian Banks' Association (IBA) over wage revision failed to make headway. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has also called for a three-day strike from March 11-13. The UFBU represents nine trade unions. "From April 1, we have decided to go on an indefinite strike," UFBU state convenor Siddartha Khan told PTI.

UFBU has been seeking a 15 per cent hike in wages but the Indian Banks Association has capped it at 12.25 per cent. "This is not acceptable," Khan said.

Interestingly, the bank unions have called strike on the day when Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be presenting her second budget.

AIBEA General Secretary CH Venkatachalam said the Indian Banks’ Union had adopted a rigid approach in resolving the wage revision demands during the bipartite talks on January 13.

He said the UFBU has decided to go on a two-day strike followed by a three-day strike, starting March 11. They will go on an indefinite strike from April 1 to highlight the demands and express our protest.

"We are sure all our unions would understand the seriousness of the situation given the government policies towards labour and take all-out steps to implement the programmes," he said.

With Agency Inputs