UFBU yet to decide on bank strike

Gagandeep Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 18

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is yet to decide on observing strike from January 21 to 24 and an indefinite strike from March 19.
The UFBO comprising the AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC and NOBW had given a call for strike in the month of December to put pressure on the Indian Bank Association (IBA) for 25 per cent enhancement in their wages.
The decision to observe strike was put on hold on January 6 following the positive attitude of the IBA.
 Speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, UFBO representative Amrit Lal said there was a lot of resentment among the bank employees about the rigid attitude of the government regarding the demand for wage revision. The UFBU had demanded 25 per cent increase in wages and reduced their offer to 23 per cent but the IBA was adamant and had offered only an increase of 11 per cent in the wages. The employees were not satisfied with a meagre increase in wages.
He said a meeting between the representative of the IBA and the United Forum of Bank Employees was held on January 6 where the matter of wage revision was discussed. The IBA revised its offer from an increase of 11 per cent to 12.5 per cent. Thereafter, the scheduled strike of January 7 was deferred to January 21-24 and the indefinite strike from March 19.
Amrit Lal said the UFBU expected further increase in wages. Therefore, a meeting will be held to decide the future course of action. The strike has not been called off as yet, he added.