4,000 bank employees to go on strike in MP

Bhopal, Jan 24 (UNI) About 4,000 bank employees across 3,500 bank branches across Madhya Pradesh will not work tomorrow in response to the United Forum of Bank Unions' call for a nationwide strike in support of a six-point charter of demands.

The Forum has under it nine bank employees' and officers' organisations that represent almost 100 per cent of the banking sector's employees.

''Employees will organise demonstrations, meetings and rallies in Madhya Pradesh,'' Akhil Bharatiya Bank Karmchari Sangh Convenor V K Verma said at a press conference here today.

In the state capital, employees will gather in front of the community hall at New Market, raise slogans and stage a demonstration. Later, a rally would touch Apex Bank crossing, Panchanan Bhavan, Bhadbhada Road and Rang Mahal crossing before transforming into a meeting in front of the State Bank of India's New Market branch. Trade union leaders would address the meeting.

''If tomorrow's strike does not have the desired effect then a two-day strike will begin on February 25. If demands are still not met an indefinite strike will get underway in the last week of March,'' Mr Verma added.

About ten lakh bank employees will be on strike tomorrow across India. Their demands include prevention of merger of public sector banks, ensuring appointment on compassionate grounds, filling of vacant posts, stopping outsourcing of general banking services and arriving at a speedy understanding on wages' review.

UNI AKS-AC MSJ KP1727