SBI unions submit new proposal, asked by Govt to resume work

New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) The government today said it would ''sympathetically consider'' the revised proposal submitted by the State Bank of India unions, and asked the striking employees and officers to resume work to create a favourable environment for an amicable settlement to the six-day-old impasse.

''... the management and the unions should negotiate in good faith and arrive at a conclusion which may then be submitted to the government for consideration... further, any proposal submitted to the government will receive the most sympathetic consideration,'' Special Secretary (Financial Sector) Vinod Rai said in response to a letter by Mr P K Patnaik, Secretary, All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF), one of the two unions on strike.

Mr Rai said SBI Chairman A K Purwar had informed the government that he had received the revised proposal which contained a demand relating to the ''cut off point''.

More than 210,000 employees and officers of SBI, on strike since April 3 under the banner of AISBISF and All India State Bank Officers' Federation, are demanding revision in pension schemes and other related matters.

Mr Rai said that since talks between the unions and the management had resumed and were at an advanced stage, the government wanted the unions to resume work in the interest of the general public and the customers of the SBI.

''This would create a favourable environment to reach an amicable settlement.'' UNI YJ MSJ BD1844