Bank strike paralises banking activities

Mangalore, Sept 24 (UNI) The banking activities in the undivided Daxina Kannada district today crippled following two-days strike by the employees and the officers under the banner of United Forum of Banks Unions (UFBU) which began today.

Most of the banks branches in the undivided district remained closed due to the employees participating in the strike. According to the sources the head offices of several public sector banks such as Syndicate Bank (Manipal), Corporation Bank and Karnataka Bank in the private sector, both in Mangalore functioned with minimum staff strength.

Following ATMs were seen functioning, the customers did not feel much difficulty in getting money today.

The employees and officers of under UFBU are striking demanding stopping the move by the government to privatization of banks based on the recommendations of Raghuraram Rajan committee and the Hooda Committee.

The Forum had also strongly opposed merging of public sector banks and enhancement in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the banks.

The Forum had also given strike call tomorrow demanding implementation of agreement reached between the Forum and Indian Bank Association on the major issues such as wage revision, revision of pension and compassionate recruitment in the banks.

The striking employees and the officers who gathered before State Bank of India here held demonstration and shouted slogans against the anti-banking policies of the government.

Similar demonstrations were also held before the Regional Office of the Syndicate Bank Catholic centre, Udupi and in front of the Head Office of the Syndicate Bank at Manipal.

UNI MA SIV GM1610