Central Bank resort to agitation demanding facilities

Chennai, Jan 22: Members of the United Forum of Central Bank Unions comprising AICBEF, AICBOF, AICBEC, AICBOA, RCBOC, CBEFI, AICBSF and AICBWO led by its Convenor C H Venkatachalam staged a shouted slogans demonstrations in front of the Zonal office of the Central Bank Of India here today, as part of their one day nationwide strike demanding congenial atmosphere and healthy industrial relation policy in banks, to enable the employees and officers of the bank to work wholeheartedly for the bank's progress.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Venkatachalam said about 40,000 employees and officers of the bank across the country had observed a day's strike today to press their demands.

Mr Venkatachalam, who is also the General Secretary of the All India Central Bank Employees Federation (AICBEF) said the strike call was against the curtailing of trade union rights, unilateral changes in staff-related policies, harassment of employees and officers and non-implementation of agreed decisions.

The strike call was given under the banner of the United Forum of Central Bank Unions and other unions and federations of Central Bank employees after the failure of all efforts for discussion and conciliation with the management, he added.

He said today's strike would be followed by eight zonal level strikes during next month, and if necessary further strikes would be organised in March.

He alleged that the bank management was resorting to issuing memos, chargesheets, transfers and suspensions to harass and terrorise the staff.

He also alleged that a war-like situation has been built up by the management. It was an all out effort to destroy the unions and attack the employees and officers instead of taking the help and cooperation of the staff to develop the bank and business, he added.

UNI