All India Bank strike on October 27 called

Kochi, Oct 20: To protest outsourcing of banking services, merger moves by the government and other issues, the United Forum of Bank Unions today called for an All India Bank strike on October 27.

Talking to media here, Forum State Convenor V J Johny said the decision to outsource customary banking services to private agencies on commission and contract basis would affect interests of bank staff and endanger secrecy and security of customer transactions.

At the instance of the Centre, the RBI had issued a circular on the matter, he said.

The forum also took strong exception to the RBI's decision to outsource clearing operations, which were done by RBI, SBI and other public sector banks, to a private firm, National Payment Corporation.

It urged the government to look into the proposed bank mergers as they would result in curtailment of banking services through closure of bank branches and retrenchment of staff, Mr Johny added.

The Bill to remove 10 per cent voting rights and the government's move to allow 74 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) would be detrimental to the country's banking interests, he added.

The forum, a consortium of nine bank unions, also urged the government to recruit people to fill the existing one lakh vacancies in various banks and reassess the pension scheme.

UNI