Bank employees to go ahead with nationwide strike, talks with IBA failed

As the talks between United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and the Indian Banks` Association (IBA) in Mumbai failed, UFBU on Wednesday declared that it will go on a nationwide strike on August 22.

The UFBU is an umbrella body in the Indian banking sector which includes nine unions. A notice has been issued by UFBU for a nationwide strike in order to protest against reforms in the banking sector.

"Since nothing positive emerged (at the talks) on the issues raised by us, our call for strike on August 22 stands," IANS quoted C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees` Association (AIBEA), as saying.

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D. Thomas Franco Rajendra Dev, General Secretary of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) said, "The IBA requested to withdraw strike without any concrete solution to the demands. Hence the strike call stands.”

Meanwhile, the Forum has been called for a conciliatory meeting in New Delhi on Friday by the Chief Labour Commissioner.

Earlier, in a move to prevent the nationwide bankers’ strike on August 22, the IBA and the Chief Labour Commissioner had called the UFBU for talks on Wednesday, a top leader of All India Bank Employees’ Association said.

“The IBA has called the UFBU for a meeting in Mumbai on Aug 16 and the Chief Labour Commissioner has called us for a meeting in New Delhi on Aug 18,” AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told news agency IANS.

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