Bank strike paralyses banking service in Bengal

Kolkata, Jan 25(UNI) About 60,000 bank employees and officers joined the nationwide strike in West Bengal today totally paralysing the banking service.

All nationalised and foreign banks, including their ATMs in the city and elsewhere in the state remained closed throughout the day halting transaction.

In the city, striking officers and employees staged demonstrations in front of their offices in support of the strike.

The one-day strike was called by United Forum of Bank Unions to press for six-point charter of demands, including that there should be no merger of public sector banks and no outsourcing for normal banking services.

Claiming that the strike was 'total', UFBU Convenor for Eastern Region Ashok Dutta warned that bank employees would have to go for another strike on February 25 and 26 if the IBA and the Centre failed to redress the grievances.

UNI KDG KK RN1943