UFBU to go ahead with two day stir

Chennai, Sep 20 (UNI) As the conciliatory meeting organised by the Chief Labour Commissioner between the Indian Banks Association (IBA) and representatives of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) failed, the latter today decided to go ahead with its two-day nationwide stir on September 24 and 25.

UFBU Convenor C H Venkatachalam in a statement here today said though the Labour Commissioner had called for another round of conciliatory meeting on September 23, chances of any positive outcome were remote, going by the attitude and approach of the government and the bank managements, and SBI taking steps for merger of banks.

''Hence the UFBU exhorts all its Unions and members to go ahead with the strike,'' he added.

Mr Venkatachalam said none of the demands putforth by the UFBU like pension option, wage revision, compassionate appointment scheme were resolved within the agreed time frame as per the February 25 MoU.

Moreover, there was no let up in government's efforts and bank managements to implement the banking reforms like privatisation, merger of banks and allowing unrestricted voting rights to FDI in banking sector, unmindful of the strong protest by trade unions, he said.

''In the absence of any firm commitment from the IBA on the issues, the UFBU has decided to go ahead with the two-day strike,'' he added.

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