PNB Chairman says Bank strike tomorrow unjustified

New Delhi, Jan 24 (UNI) Punjab National Bank CMD K C Chakrabarty today descibed the all-India strike by Bank employees tomorrow as unjustified, saying that it was difficult to figure out how they will be affected by the call of consolidation in the Banking industry, the main plank on which the strike is to take place.

Mr Chakrabarty told newspersons here that Mergers and Amalgamations have the sanction of Parliament and thus were not illegal.

He said he failed to understand the concerns of the unions in their role as Bank employees as their terms and conditions of employment would not be affected. They can argue out their case against mergers and amalgamations as citizens of the country.

"The right forum then for the strike is involving the general citizenery of the country, rather than the Bank employees", he said.

"The strike and the issues they are raising may be justified from their point of view.

It is not justified from the management's point of view. The Unions have had disussions with the IBA (Indian Bank Association), which did not work out. I am a member of the IBA, how can I say their strike is justified", Mr Chkarbarty said in response to a question.

Mr Chakrbarty's remarks came at a Press Conference organsied by the Bank to announce Q3 results.

As to whether the Bank's operations will be on in line with the Bank of Baroda's announcement of keeping the services active, Mr Chakrabarty said technolgy driven services like the ATMs would be operational as also the Data Centre of PNB.

He wondered how BoB will keep all its services active.

UNI GS MP RN1910