Officers Association provides suggestions to MD&CEO on how to make Bank a better bank to work with

In a letter to the MD and CEO of Punjab National Bank, the All India Punjab National Bank Officers' Federation offered crucial suggestions for enhancing the bank's working environment.

Suggestions to improve work environment in Bank

1. Office / Branch timing – Most of the bigger branches are closed after 6 PM, it goes as late as 8 PM. Most of the Admin offices are closed after 7 PM. There should be a directive from HO to ZO and CO to ensure that all branches and admin offices are closed by 6 PM. Only adequately rest employees can deliver good and efficient service the next day and as all of us know banking is a service industry where quality service matters the most.
2. Meetings both virtual and in person are dragged up to late hours in the evening even it goes up to night and this is having adverse effects. All such meetings either virtual or in person should end by 6 PM and there are too many virtual meetings happening every day from HO, ZO and CO, such meetings should be minimized.
3. Any virtual meeting in business hours should be avoided.
4. There should be a complete ban on illegal day end checks by CO on branches.
5. Holiday working should be avoided.
6. All ZO and CO authorities should be directed not to abuse, give threat and humiliate employees working under them, every day we are getting complaints of misbehavior from controlling office officials.
7. Targets given to branches and verticals should be realistic and in line with industry trends and our corporate guidelines. If today banking industry is growing at the rate of 10 pc then our targets should be around that only max plus 2 pc above industry trends.
8. Complete ban on window dressing of business.
9. Controlling offices should trust branch officials and their interference in day-to-day banking should be bare minimum and it should be more of hand holding.
10. There are too many campaigns every day. We should move away from campaign driven banking to self-motivated banking by branch officials.
11. There should be one month gap between every outreach program.
12. MD and CEO should do only quarterly review of business. Monthly review should be EDs domain.
13. No of employees in branches / vertical should be increased and that of Admin offices should be rationalized.
14. We need to recruit more and more clerical staff to manage our counter services better.
15. We need to invest more on capabilities building of our workforce through training (offline mode).
16. Number of products should be rationalized.
17. We have too many portals no should be reduced and rationalized.
18. Our bank other income is on lower side in comparison to peer banks. We need to analyze the reasons and fix this issue on priority basis.
19. Our operating profit is also on lower side we need to do brainstorming to improve our profitability.
20. We need to create a sense of belongingness and ownership among our employees towards our bank.

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Bank Association asks Officers to leave Branch by 6 PM

 

All members of the All India Punjab National Bank Officers' Federation (AIPNBOF) are required to leave their offices or branches by 6 PM. The general secretary of the AIPNBOF has requested that PNB staff only work eight hours a day. 

Options for loans The federation has reaffirmed the "Kewal 8 Ghante Kaam Ke" work guideline, which states that workers shouldn't be expected to work past their assigned shifts. 

 The general secretary of the AIPNBOF, Krishna Kumar, stated, "Comrades are asked to promptly bring the matter to my attention if any day-end check or official instruction is placed by circle authorities to work beyond this time."

The federation has made this decision in order to safeguard officers from undue work-related stress and to maintain a positive work-life balance. A Bank of Baroda chief manager recently killed himself as a result of intense work-related stress.

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Bank Unions and Management Held a Conciliation Meeting Today; Talks about PLI and 5 Days Banking

 

With reference to the information in the conciliation minutes dated April 29, 2025, the parties' discussions have begun today. As stated in the final paragraph of the conciliation proceedings on April 29, 2025, it is noted at the outset that the representatives from the Bank of Maharashtra, State Bank of India (later one representative joined, but not at the proper level), Central Bank of India, UCO Bank, and IOB (later one representative joined, but not at the proper level) were once more absent. In order to ensure that their representatives of the proper level are always sent, it was agreed to write a letter to the top management of each bank.

All other issues contained in the conciliation proceedings dated 29.04.2025 were also reviewed with following outcomes:

All other issues contained in the conciliation proceedings dated 29.04.2025 were also reviewed with following outcomes:

What Bank Unions Said? What happened in Meeting

(i) There was an improvement in the matter of PLI as intimated by the Ld. Representative of DFS that it is proposed to give flexibility to the banks’ board for identification of officers in different brackets in each scale, within the ambit of the PLI scheme. However, the Ld. Representatives of unions were not agreed. Accordingly, after marathon discussion it is agreed that representatives of union and the IBA to discuss the issue threadbare at bipartite level and come up with certain proposal within the ambit of the scheme. 

Such proposal shall be submitted to the DFS for review of the present scheme in the light of the proposal so that a consensus may be arrived at in order to maintain smooth and cordial relation in the industry. At this juncture, it is expected that all the banks shall cooperate by not implementing the PLI scheme for any scale till the outcome of the discussions.

The committee/the group so created for discussion on the issue of the PLI is also mandated to discuss the issue of outsourcing / recruitment of sub-staff and submit a report.

(ii) So far recruitment and the data in this regard is concerned, some of the banks have submitted but lack of consistency and uniformity is observed. Accordingly, the committee/group so created for discussion on PLI is also advised to collect the data on recruitment in an appropriate format so that consistency and uniformity is maintained and submit the same on the next date of hearing.

(iii) Despite issue of a letter by DFS to all the Chief Secretaries of the States to look into the security issue of banks against attack on bank staffs, one fresh instance of attack at Dhule in State Bank of India has been reported which is not only unwarranted rather painful and unbearable. In view of this fact, IBA is requested to advise all the Banks to take immediate steps to avoid any such occurrences in future.

(iv) The issues related to 5 days banking, the matter discussed in length, a D.O. letter bearing No. 21(17)/2025-IR dated 16.06.2025 has already been sent to the Secretary, DFS. The representative of DFS informed that the issue is under consideration of the Government.

The next date of conciliation proceedings is fixed on 11.08.2025 at 11.30 AM.

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Bank Management is not serious about resolving issues, says Chief Labour Commissioner

Under the direction of the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, a conciliation meeting was conducted today (April 29, 2025) to settle ongoing conflicts between management and public sector bank unions. The purpose of the meeting was to ensure good labor relations and to address a number of important requests. All participants were greeted by the CLC, which also urged them to collaborate and seek a peaceful resolution.

Concern Over Lack of Commitment by Bank Managements

The CLC expressed disappointment that many bank managements are not taking the conciliation meetings seriously. Despite repeated advice, some banks are not sending senior officials who can make decisions. This attitude not only disrespects the authority of the CLC but also delays the process of finding a fair solution.

All banks have again been advised to depute senior officers who can actively participate and help reach settlements.

Conclusion and Next Meeting

The CLC urged all stakeholders to continue discussions at the bipartite level (between unions and management) and try to solve issues amicably. The next conciliation meeting is scheduled for June 17, 2025, at 11:30 AM.

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Bank Unions met with IBA on 23 April, Read what about 5 Day Banking & other residual points

On April 23, 2025, Bank Unions met with IBA to address a number of concerns, including the Revised PLI plan, 5-Day Banking, and other matters.

What discussions were held about 5 Day Banking?

The establishment of five-day banking was considered by the bank unions and IBA. According to several sources, the government opposes five-day banking, the bank unions told IBA. The unions will have to go on strike once more if this is the case. According to IBA, they are pursuing the issue with DFS.

The key question, however, is how long the IBA will talk to the government on five-day banking. The conversations have continued for more than a year. Also on April 23, 2025, no solid discussion was held regarding 5 Day Banking. Like all other meetings, this time also IBA tried to liaison with bank unions in order to defer strike. AIBEA has released minutes of meetings which are as follows:

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Bank Unions Oppose Government’s modified PLI Scheme for Senior Officers in Bank

 

The recent modifications to the Performance-Linked Incentive (PLI) program for top bank executives made by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), which is part of the Finance Ministry, have been vehemently challenged by the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA). According to the union, the new formula is unjust, goes against earlier agreements, and causes conflict among workers.

Bank workers can receive additional financial rewards through the PLI scheme, which is dependent on their performance. In 2018, the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) first proposed a plan in which rewards would be granted according to each employee's performance. 

 PLI should be based on the overall success of a bank, not on the performance of individual employees, according to the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which represents bank unions. Services related to credit cards Following talks, PLI would be determined by each bank's total performance, as affirmed by the 11th Bipartite Settlement (BPS) and 8th Joint Note, which were signed in November 2020.

 June 2024 saw additional revisions to this agreement, but the fundamental framework stayed the same: rewards were to be given according to on collective performance.

What has changed now?

In November 2024, the Government of India (DFS, Finance Ministry) changed the system without consulting bank unions. The new rule states that PLI for Scale IV officers and above (senior management) will now be based on individual performance instead of the collective performance of the bank.

This change only affects officers in Scale IV and above, while junior officers and clerical staff will continue to receive incentives based on the bank’s overall performance.

Why are bank unions opposing this change?

The AIBEA and other bank unions have raised strong objections to the government’s move. They argue that:

It is a unilateral decision: The PLI scheme was originally decided bilaterally between IBA and UFBU. The government did not consult bank unions before making this change.

It creates division: Under the new rule, some senior officers will receive huge incentives, while lower-level employees will get much less.

It is discriminatory: While a few officers will get a very high PLI, many deserving employees will not receive anything.

It is unfair to banks as a whole: If a bank performs poorly due to external reasons (such as fraud or government policies), the entire workforce suffers, even if some employees worked hard.

It violates previous agreements: The UFBU had already agreed on a collective PLI system in previous wage agreements, and this sudden change goes against that.

In opposition to this decision, the AIBEA and other bank unions have chosen to demonstrate. They insist that the government go back to the original collective performance model and remove the current individual-based PLI system. Bank officers and staff are currently awaiting additional talks between the government, the Indian Banks' Association, and bank unions. In the upcoming months, there might be bank staff strikes and widespread rallies if the government doesn't change its mind. 

The government's new PLI system has been met with fierce criticism from bank unions. Bank unions are concerned that this may result in discrimination, inequality, and needless competition among employees, despite the government's claim that individual incentives will improve performance.

The coming weeks will be crucial in deciding whether this issue will escalate into a major confrontation between bank employees and the government.

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Latest Update on Bank Strike: Reconciliation Meeting Held Today

 
A reconciliation conference involving the IBA, bank associations, and bank management was held today. This conference was attended by the labor commissioner and the management of all public sector banks. On March 24 and 25, 2025, Bank employees announced a strike, prompting the demand for the reconciliation meeting. 

 Due to demands like 5-day banking not being met, the bank associations have declared a strike. The meeting was place today, but no agreement could be reached. Therefore, the next meeting is scheduled for March 21, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. 

 The CLC office was the location of the meeting. The bank management, DFS, and IBA were all present. Every topic was covered. Regarding the concerns, particularly recruitment, 5-day banking, and unilateral PLI, there was no improvement.

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Bank Officers Union announces All India strike against New Transfer Policy

The All India Bank of Baroda Officers’ Association has declared a strike in protest against the bank management’s new anti-officer transfer policy. According to the circular, officers who have completed 6 years in the officers’ cadre within their current zone can request a transfer to another zone of their preference after this period. The union views this policy as unjust due to the lengthy 6-year duration and is demanding a reduction in the required duration.

The BOB Officers’ Union has threatened an All India Strike if the revised transfer policy is not revoked. They argue that the current policy imposes undue hardship on officers and are advocating for a more flexible approach to transfers.

• Black Badge/Black ribbon wearing from Monday, 29th April.

• Submission of Memorandum to all Regional Heads addressed to our Bank’s MD&CEO by team of Office bearers/Activists on 30th April 2024 evening.

• Demonstrations outside all Regional Offices on one evening during the period 1st May to 4th May 2024, taking into account the election model code of conduct as applicable in the relevant area.

• All India Strike on 7th June 2024, after General Elections are over. In the meantime, we shall serve Strike Notice to the Bank.

The last year transfer policy/IZT were exercised with criteria of 3 years for lady officers and 4 years for Male officers and now with policy being changed to 6 years, the sudden increase in the minimum relaxation tenure for this IZT(Inter Zone Transfer) exercise is creating panic among the officers and demoralising concerned officers and their family members, who have been posted outside the parent zone during previous IZT exercises.

Earlier officers with age of 55 are eligible for retransfer to their parent zone or to the zone of their choice, now in this IZT policy the age criteria has been increased to 58 years which is ruthless.

The IZT policy eligible period for the employees being 6 years is very long and staying away from families is unbearable, which adversely impact family life of the officer’s.

Since 2019 there is no recruitment in Bank and all previous IZT batches have been retransferred with 3 / 4 years ( lady staff 3 years) criteria, Management’s sudden shift to 6 Years minimum tenure is demoralizing officer employees as there is no work life balance in our bank due to IZT Transfers.

Many of the lady officers were undergoing fertility treatments and still were transferred midway and suffered due to delay in treatment due to IZT Still there are some officers whose IZT request has been rejected in earlier IZT exercises for shortage of a day or two with respect to the cutoff date. But these officers has been identified by the Management during the IZT 2019-20 and relieved late by the respective zonal office/regional office which in turn effected the officers during retransfer to the parent zone.

The Management is thinking that they have given enough concession for women and men under the IZT policy but they have forgotten that most of the employees who have undergone IZT posting have been undergoing physical and mental agony, since many of the officers have left their families back at their parent zone due to health problem of parents/in laws, nontransferable employment of spouse, education problem of children etc. This IZT policy has further demotivated and shut down the hope of these officers of getting back to their family.

Every year all the officers of the bank are obeying the instructions of the top management and undergoing the IZT even though they are facing some personal problems with a hope that they will be transferred back to the parent zone after completion of 3 years’ service.

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Bank employees keen on early start to wage talks, says BEFI leader

Bank employees numbering several lakh, across public, regional rural and old generation private banks in the country, are keen on an early start to the next round of wage negotiations between the unions that represent the workforce and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).

“Wage revision is due since November 2022. Since the last, 11th bipartite settlement effective November 2017 (reached in November 2020), we observe banks are not smoothly authorising IBA to start negotiations,” General Secretary of the Bank Employees’ Federation of India (BEFI) Debasish Basu Chaudhury said in an interaction.

While some banks delay their mandate to IBA, a few authorise the association to negotiate only up to a particular payscale as beyond that, they desire to have their own arrangements with the officers, he said, adding this time too when the unions insisted on launch of discussions, IBA said most banks were yet to give their mandate. “A few days ago, the United Forum of Bank Unions had urged IBA to start negotiations pending whatever mandate. This is where we are standing,” he said. In the last settlement, a 15% pay increase formed the core of the agreement.

Five-day week

Mr. Chaudhury, who was in Hyderabad for BEFI Telangana unit’s second conference recently, said the delay in wage talks is not the only concern as the bank workforce is also awaiting implementation of a five-day week in banks agreed at the last bipartite settlement.

The five-day week — with all Saturdays being holidays as against the second and fourth now — was a long-standing demand of unions and came in the backdrop of the employees and officers hard-pressed amid changes in government policies. Their numbers have reduced drastically and non-banking business such as mutual funds, insurance have increased and targets for the same set for employees. A reduction in number of banks has also meant closure of thousands of branches 2019 onwards. With the workforce logging more hours daily, work-life balance has become more important than before, he said, pointing out to how Central, many State governments as well as stock exchanges follow a five-day week.

The bank unions have already authorised IBA to increase work hours by 40 minutes a day to compensate for the time reduced on account of all Saturday holidays. The proposal is before the Centre with an understanding that the Finance Ministry will discuss it with other stakeholders. He expressed confidence that all concerned will consent, especially alternative banking delivery channels becoming popular.

Besides better wages and other demands of employees, BEFI is fighting for strengthening of banks, including RRBs and those private, measures to safeguard public money and opposed to privatisation of banks, he said.

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Bank officers’ union launches nationwide movement against privatisation

Bank officers’ union on Tuesday launched nationwide movement against proposed privatisation of stat-owned lenders. ‘Bank Bachao Desh Bachao Rally’ was held at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Tuesday attended by officers and other stakeholders from various parts of the country, the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) said in a statement.

Addressing the rally, AIBOC General Secretary Soumya Datta appealed to the government to withdraw the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which has been listed for introduction and passing in the winter session of Parliament.

“In case the government tables and passes the bill paving the way for the privatisation of the public sector banks, the bank officers will unite all the stakeholders of the banking sector and launch a nationwide agitation,” he said, urging the bankers to draw inspiration from the farmers movement.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting Budget 2021-22 earlier this year had announced the privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs) as part of disinvestment drive to garner Rs 1.75 lakh crore. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, to be introduced during the session is expected to bring down the minimum government holding in the PSBs from 51 per cent to 26 per cent.

In the last concluded session, Parliament passed a bill to allow privatisation of state-run general insurance companies. The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021, removed the requirement of the central government to hold at least 51 per cent of the equity capital in a specified insurer.

The Act, which came into force in 1972, provided for the acquisition and transfer of shares of Indian insurance companies and undertakings of other existing insurers in order to serve better the needs of the economy by securing the development of general insurance business.

Government think-tank NITI Aayog has already suggested two banks and one insurance company to Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment for privatisation. According to sources, Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank are likely candidates for the privatisation.

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Bank unions given call for two-day nationwide strike against proposed privatisation of PSBs

 

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine unions, has given a call for a two-day strike from December 16 to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders. In the Union Budget presented in February, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the privatisation of two public sector banks (PSBs) as part of its disinvestment plan.

The government has already privatised IDBI Bank by selling its majority stake in the lender to LIC in 2019 and merged 14 public sector banks in the past four years.

The government has listed the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, for introduction and passage during the current session of Parliament.

In view of this, UFBU has decided to oppose the move for privatisation, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said in a statement.

Strike notice for December 16 and December 17, 2021, has been served by UFBU on the IBA, he said.

Hence, he said, for the past 25 years, under the banner of UFBU "we have been opposing the policies of banking reforms which are aimed at weakening public sector banks".

Members of UFBU include All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Confederation of India (BEFI).

Others are Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).

In a developing country like India, where banks deal with huge public savings and they have to play a leading role to ensure broad-based economic development, public sector banking with social orientation is the most appropriate and imperative need, he said.

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Minutes of Discussion between IBA &Workmen Unions on 10th Dec

Discussion between IBA &Workmen Unions 

A discussion between the Negotiating Committee of IBA and Workmen Unions (except BEFI) took place today in Mumbai. The meeting was held to discuss residual issues of Common Charter of Demand.  A supplementary minutes of today’s discussions is also available in social media.

We  observe from the minutes that two of the sensitive issues, among others, centring round which we took stand not to sign the MoU on 22nd July 2020, have been placed at the top of list for discussion. These are 5 day week and updation of pension. We feel that these issues should have been discussed with due importance and finalised while inking 11th BPS.

So far 5 day week is concerned, on the day of MoU, from BEFI we sought IBA's view on this. The negotiating committee remained silent on that day. The then Chairman of IBA told in an earlier meeting that IBA is not in favour of 5 day week as bank employees of our country are already enjoying more leaves comparing with other countries of the world. The stand of IBA seems to be unchanged as they reiterated their view unambiguously in today’s meeting also. We understand that so long IBA doesn’t change their stand on this matter, the issue is not likely to be referred to other stake holders.

In regard to periodical updation of pension on the occasions of wage revision and updation of pension for existing pensioners, the IBA is maintaining their self contradictory position. It is mentioned in the Minutes as comments/response of IBA that the current details of the Pension Fund in various Banks are being collected and based on these details, actuarial working also needs to be done. The IBA, all along the negotiation process, had been claiming that updation of pension require huge amount of money. When details of Pension Fund of all banks are not available with IBA, how they calculated fund requirement we wonder. Moreover, details of Pension Funds of most of the banks are available to different retiree organizations obtained through Right to Information which were duly forwarded to IBA. It is IBA who are finding difficulties to get the details from their member banks which are undergoing audit every year. 

Secondly, the IBA during negotiation proposed for ad hoc increase and that too in phases starting with the earlier pensioners. The idea of truncated revision of pension has been reiterated in today’s Minutes wherein it is mentioned that, IBA is quite sympathetic to the issue, especially revision in pension for those who have retired under earlier Settlement periods when the emoluments were relatively lesser than at present. While we also feel that the amount of pension of the employees/officers retired during earlier settlements are very low but this idea has been mooted to create  division among the pensioners which  should not be allowed. Our struggle must continue for updation for all as had been done recently in RBI and no ad hoc increase, the pension is to be revised in RBI pattern.

Comrades, we must not lose our focus on other important issues. Along with 5 day week and updation/revision of pension in RBI pattern, our endeavour should remain for scrapping of NPS and extension of defined benefit pension scheme to all. 

We are going to lodge our strong protest against engagement of Apprentices in large scale by SBI, which has also declared a VRS scheme targeting as many as 30000 employees/officers. The banks are recruiting inadequate number of employees; more and more routine jobs are being outsourced. We seriously consider that need of the hour is sustained joint movement in the industry under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). We shall take necessary initiative in that direction.

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This Bank Union announced 'No Levy from the Members'

Canara Bank Officers Organization (CBOO) has announced that they would not charge any levy from any of their members for 11th Bipartite Wage Settlement. They had not charged the levy in previous settlement also.

The 11th BPS Wage revision was finalized on 11th Nov 2020 with three years delay.

This is really a very appreciating step and eye opener for other unions, many of them have already announced a hefty levy from their members. 

Many of the members have shown their displeasure in collecting the levy by the unions post 11th BPS settlement. There is no point of collecting monies for the common cause. 11th BPS Wage settlement is the common cause and the expenses can be adjusted towards the monthly collection. 

It pinches if the demands of the members are not fulfilled. The major demands of the bankers like 5 days banking or 20% hike were not at all considered and fulfilled by the banker Unions.

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Bank Strike: Many PSU Banks to Remain Closed Across India on November 26

 

If you have any work pending at your bank, make sure to do it today because most public sectors banks across India are planning to go on strike on Thursday i.e. November 26. Many banks have also issued an alert message to their customers through social media. Banks will resume their services on the next day i.e. November 27. After this, banks will be closed again on November 29 due to fourth Saturday and on November 29, Sunday. Also Read - Finance Minister Asks Banks to Ensure All Accounts Are Linked to Aadhaar by March 2021

Issues & Demands 

1. In support of the call of National Convention of Workers organized by by Central Trade Unions on 7 points common demands and

2. Demanding

• Stop moves of privatization of banks
• Strengthen public sector banks 
• Take tough action against loan defaulters
• Recover the huge corporate NPAs
• Increase interest rate on bank deposits
• Stop outsourcing of regular banking jobs
• Make adequate recruitment in banks
• Scrap new pension scheme for bank employees
• DA linked pension for all bank employees including Co-op bank employees 
• Revitalize and Strengthen Co-op banks and RRBs

Will digital transactions work?

The 26 November strike will not affect digital transactions and users can still conduct transactions through NetBanking or Mobile Banking. At the same time, you can withdraw money from ATMs.

Why has the strike being called?

The strike has been called against the anti-labour policies of the central government. The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) on Tuesday said it would be joining the one-day nationwide strike on November 26 called by central trade unions to protest against the government’s anti-labour policies. Ten central trade unions, except Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, will observe a nationwide general strike tomorrow.

“The Lok Sabha in its recently held session has passed three new labour enactments by dismantling existing 27 enactments in the name of ‘Ease of Business’, which are purely in the interest of corporates. In the process, 75 per cent of workers are being pushed out of the orbits of labour laws since they will have no legal protection under the new enactment,” the AIBEA said in a release.

Which banks will remain closed?

Notably, AIBEA represents most banks except State Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank. It has four lakh bank employees from various public and old private sector and a few foreign banks as its members. In Maharashtra, around 30,000 bank employees from 10,000 bank branches of public sector banks, old generation private sector banks, regional rural banks and foreign banks are observing the strike, AIBEA release said.

The union said bank employees on November 26 will also focus on their demands such as opposition to bank privatisation, opposition to outsourcing and contract system, adequate recruitment, stern action against big corporate defaulters, increase in rate of interest on bank deposits and reduction in service charges.

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Bank officers' unions blame IBA for derailing wage negotiation process

Four bank officers' unions led by All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) on Sunday blamed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) for derailing finalisation of the wage revision process for over four lakh bank officers under the recent wage settlement announced in July this year.

The other three officers' unions are All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC), and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO). After three years of intense negotiations, bank employees' unions and IBA, on July 22, agreed for an annual wage hike of 15 per cent, which would be applicable from November 1, 2017.

All the parties were required to finalise the wage settlement within a period of ninety days from July 22, 2020. "On October 17 abruptly without any rhyme or reason, IBA informed their inability to conclude and ink the joint note pertaining to officers' wage revision with effect from November 1, 2017. The lame reason cited by them was not signing the costing exercise with the workmen unions," AIBOC said in the release.

The IBA could not be reached for a response. AIBOC in a release said representatives of bank officers' unions and the IBA met on August 24th, September 10th and October 12th to conclude the wage revision process for bank officers. Both the parties again met on October 15th and 16th to finalise the wage revision process, the release added. It was mutually agreed that the signing ceremony would be held on October 18, it further said.

Following the delay in finalising the wage revision process, the four bank officers' unions have asked their members for withdrawing extra cooperation to the banks management, restricting work up to 6 pm, avoiding official work on Sundays and holidays. The new wage revision would entail an additional yearly outgo of Rs.7,898 crore for the banks. Out of the total corpus, Rs.4,513 crore was the share of officers to be distributed under various heads for the benefit of all officers, the release said.

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Bank unions to push for salary hike ahead of Diwali

Nine bank unions representing nearly 14 lakh employees are set to make a strong push for an early agreement on the issue of wage revision in the crucial meeting with the management ahead of Diwali. A revision in the salary and wages of bank employees has been due since November 2017, however, it could not be agreed upon despite 30 meetings over the issue since July 2017. The October 17 meeting in Mumbai is crucial as it comes on the heels of Modi government’s big decision to merge 6 PSU banks with 4 larger ones, which was vehemently opposed by the bank unions. According to the industry sources, though a 12% average hike in salary was in principle agreed upon in the last month’s meeting, however, finer details are yet to be worked out.

“In the last meeting held on September 17, 2019 an offer of 12% increase in pay slip component was made by the negotiating committee besides other things,” said the Indian Banks’ Association in a letter to the bank managements as it recommended payment of one month’s salary (basic plus DA) to bank staff as an ad hoc payment ahead of festival season.

Why a pay revision in banking sector is stuck

Unlike the central government and state government employees that are covered under the pay commission, salary and wage revision in the banking sector takes place through a wage revision settlement between the workers and management. However, unlike the pay commission that is constituted every 10 years, the wage revision agreement in the banking industry is valid for five years only.

The last pay revision in the banking sector took place in November 2012, though it was implemented in 2015 but the effective date of implementation was November 2012 and the five year period ended in November 2017. This will be t11th wage revision settlement between bank employees and management but it is pending for the last 2 years.

The issue of merger of DA with basic

This wage revision is crucial as a part of the dearness allowance that is paid to bank staff is expected to be merged in the basic salary in this round of settlement.

“Merger of DA with the basic salary is due and it has been almost decided that 47.80% of the DA applicable in November 2016 will be merged with the basic salary of bank staff,” Ashwani Rana, General Secretary of Delhi Pradesh Bank Workers Organisation, told Financial Express Online.

The remaining component of dearness allowance (DA) to be paid to bank staff will be decided afresh by taking reference to the DA applicable in November 2016.

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Bank Union differed two-day strike on September 26, 27

The proposed two-day bank strike, called by four bank unions following the recent government announcement on amalgamation of 10 public sector banks into four, has been called off.

The decision was taken after members of the bank association on Monday met the Finance Secretary and were assured of a positive solution on their demands.

Two two-day strike, to be held on September 26 and September 27, and followed by two-day weekend, i.e. Saturday and Sunday, was called by banking unions- All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).

The banking unions have threatened to go on a strike following to protest against the merger. In a statement, the AIBOC said that the unions in the banking sector were opposed to the merger of banks. The officials asserted that the organization is protesting for the interest of the general public.

Among other demands, the unions are also seeking the immediate introduction of five-day a week in full and reduction of cash transaction hour and regulated working hours.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on August 30 announced that Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank and United Bank will be merged to become the second-largest PSU Bank in India. Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank will be merged into one entity to be 4th largest PSB, while Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank will be amalgamated into a single entity to be the 5th largest PSB; and Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank will become one entity to be the 7th largest PSB.

The Finance Minister further said that the Bank of India and Central Bank of India would remain independent. After the amalgamation, only 12 PSBs will be left in India from the 27 earlier.

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