Nationwide strike hits banking operations in AP

Hyderabad, Sep 24 (UNI) Banking operations in Andhra Pradesh came to a grinding halt as the two-day nationwide strike, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) to press their demands, began today.

Andhra Pradesh Bank Employees Federation General Secretary B S Rambabu told UNI that more than 85,000 employees of all Public Sector Banks and some private and foreign banks participated in the strike.

More than 5,000 bank branches in the state were affected following the strike.

Large number of bank employees under the banner of UFBU assembled at the State Bank of Hyderabad, Gunfoundry, and took out a march to press their demands.

He said the bank staff had resorted to the strike as the managements had failed to solve their demands, which included pension options, compassionate appointment scheme and wage revision among other things.

The employees were also opposing the government's move like privatisation, merger of banks and allowing unrestricted voting rights to FDI in the banking sector, he said.

However, the cooperative banks in the state were exempted from the strike.

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