Bank strike ends after total collapse of money transaction

Kolkata, Sep 25 (UNI) Banking operations in India collapsed for the second day today as one million workers struck work demanding pension benefit and opposing the proposed merger of some sick banks in the country.

The strike, sponsored by the United Forum of Bank Unions, a common platform of nine unions, affected clearing operations at all major centres and most of the ATMs remained inoperative, said Bank Employees Federation of India's general secretary Pradip Biswas.

The nation-wide strike was a clear signal about the opposition against ''neo-liberal'' economic policies like merger of banks, privatisation and foreign investment in PSBs, he said.

Other demands of the protestors include pension option, appointment on compassionate ground and recruitment of new staff in the banks.

The BEFI also denounced the Union Finance Minster's statement that the banking industry in India was sufficiently insulated to withstand any fallout from the crisis in the US.

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