UBI employees protest against closing down of seven city branches

Kolkata, July 7 (UNI) The United Bank of India employees demonstrated in two places of the city today protesting the management's decision to close down seven city branches.

Describing it as a preamble to privatisation of banks, UBI Employees Union alleged the move would not only make the future of more than 100 employees uncertain but the bank would lose a sizeable chunk of business also.

'' The management says it is only relocation. But in the name of it they are virtually closing down these branches all of which are profit making and have a total customer base of one lakh, '' Union Joint Secretary Debashis Basu Chowdhury said.

He said a couple of years ago a few of these branches were incurring loss then the management decided to close them down. But the move was stalled by a joint resistance of employees, customers and the local peoples representatives, he said.

'' But since then all these branches have turned profitable following efforts of the employees. Each of the seven branches has recorded business growth by Rs one crore to nine crore over the past two years, '' he said.

Aggrieved at the move, the customers had written to the UBI chairman while a deputation was made to the manaegement by the local councillors demanding that the decision be revoked, Mr Basu Chowdhury said.

Incidentally two branches would be closed down from today.

UNI