Bank strike affects Karnataka severely

Bangalore, Jan 25: Bank customers were put to hardship due to closure of Nationalised Banks through out Karnataka following a one-day strike call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) in protest against merger of banks and demanding fulfilment of their various demands.

Thousands of Bank employees, including Officers, staged dharna in front of State Bank of India head office here shouting slogans against the Union government and demanding acceding to their long pending demands which included extension of one more option to join Pension Scheme, restoration of compassionate appointments, filling up of vacant posts, stopping of outsourcing of normal banking services and early settlement of wage revision.

In Mangalore the banking activities in the undivided Dakshna Kannada District was cripled due to the agitation. However, the Syndicate Bank Head Office and Corporate office functioned with out 70 per cent attendence, according to Bank Spokesman.

In Gulbarga, the strike was total and the the agitators held demonstration in front of State Bank of Hyderabad, Regional office.

Reports about the agitation affecting the banking activities was received from Hubli, Mysore and other parts of the State.

UNI