Banking sector to discuss issues at meet

Chandigarh, Mar 7: The Eighth triennial General Council of the All India Bank Officers Confederation beginning here tomorrow will discuss various issues related to the Indian banking sector and its employees besides expressing its opposition to the initiative of the government to privatize the sector.
"The private sector banks do not serve the interest of the common man as their sole motive is profitability", Mr Amar Pal, general secretary of the Confederation said here today.

Addressing a media conference here, he said that large-scale out sourcing including the core banking operations, the pressure of technology on the workforce, the dilution of regulatory responsibility of the RBI, the new initiatives of the government in the name of consolidation effecting the interest of the common man are the major issues that will be taken up for discussions in the meeting.

The General Council will also devote its time to discuss the issues related to the attack on trade unions in the name of labour reforms and also the attempts to dilute the statutory protections that are valuable to the working class in the country. The Council will also take up several issues related to the trade union cause, in particular the problems of the unorganized sector and the need to consolidate the trade union movement in general, with particular reference to the financial sector.

According to Mr Amar Pal the other issues to figure in the conference are one more option for pension to PF optees, merger of Associate Banks with SBI, compassionate appointment scheme revival, outsourcing. recruitment on regular basis and salary revision.

The general Council will also discuss the issues cocerning the working conditions including the salary revision due with effect from November last year.

Regulated working hours, bonus to all, the improvement of the welfare measures to the officers are some of the other issues that may be taken up for exclusive discussions in the General Council, he added.

UNI