All India Bank Strike called today by All India Bank Employees Association has been a massive success all over the country. In addition to AIBEA, the strike call has been given jointly by AIBOA, BEFI, INEF and INBOC. Unions in LIC, RBI, NABARD, IDBI also joined the strike. All India Co-operative Bank Employees Federation and all the unions in Regional Rural Banks had also given the strike call. All India Bank Deposit Collectors Federation had also given the call to its members to join the strike. Hence the strike was implemented across in all the Banks in Public Sector, Old generation Private Banks, foreign Banks, RRBs, and Co-op. Banks.

Banking operations were fully affected and paralysed in many States and normal banking services could not be fully functional due to the strike. Payments and receipts of cash in the counters was affected and even clearing of cheques could not be conducted in many centres. Inter-branch cash remittances, remittances of cash to and from currency chest were totally affected. More than five lacs of bank employees and officers joined the strike today all over the country. In metro centres, treasury operations, bills negotiations and inter-bank transactions were also affected. Reports reaching us from States and major centres indicate that strike has been total.

12 point Charter of Demands: The strike was called in support of the 12 point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions including more jobs for the unemployed youth, control of prices of essential commodities, guaranteed minimum wage of Rs. 15,000, removal of ceiling on Bonus and Gratuity, extending maternity leave benefits to all women workers, strengthening social security funds, etc. and against proposed adverse changes in labour laws, easy rules for retrenchment of workers, investment of PF in stock market, making PF and ESI as optional, curbing trade union justifys and collective bargaining, contracting out and outsourcing permanent jobs, replacing regular jobs with Apprentices, etc.

Anti-people economic policies: The strike is to protest against the anti-people economic policies of the BJP/NDA Government. Black money is increasing but no steps are being taken against it. Inflation goes unabated and Government in casual about it. Investment in agriculture and rural sector is declining but Government does not bother about it. All types of concessions are being showered on the corporate and industrial houses. Foreign Direct Investment is being encouraged even core sectors like Defence, Railways and banking and insurance sector. Public Sector is being weakened through more and more disinvestments.

Banking sector: The strike in Banks is also against the proposed banking reform measures like privatisation and globalisation of our Indian banks, merger and consolidation of public sector banks, allowing private companies to start private banks risking the savings of the poor people, foisting private sector Executives to head the public sector banks, privatisation of Regional Rural Banks, threat of closure of urban co-operative banks and Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACs), dumping all Government schemes on banks without providing adequate number of employees and officers thus forcing heavy work load on the staff. The real problem of increasing bad loans is not being effectively handled by the Government but on the other hand, cores of rupees are being written off from profits of banks. Deliberate and willful default of bank loans should be termed as criminal offence and money recovered but no action is being taken on them.

As on 31-3-2015 there are 7035 cases of willful defaulters involving bad loans of Rs. 58,792 crores. The bad loans in the Banks as on 31-3-2015 has risen to 2,97,000 crores in addition to another Rs.4,03,004 crores of bad loans of 530 corporate companies shown as rescheduled and restructured loans under CDR scheme. Bad loans struck up in top 30 borrowal accounts of PSBS as on 31-3-2015 is Rs. 1,21,162 crores.

Hence to oppose the anti-people economic policies, anti-worker labour reforms and anti-public sector banking reforms, bank unions have gone on strike. We hope that Government will see reason and change their policies. We thank the bank employees all over the country for their massive and enthusiastic support to the strike call.

Source: www.aibea.in

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Bank employees and officers associations have confirmed their participation in the nationwide general strike to be held on September 2.

In a press release, CH Venkatachalam, the General Secretary of All India Bank Employees Association, said,

“The Centre is following anti-worker and anti-welfare policies. Serious damage is being particularly caused to workers’ rights. The Centre is trying to appease the capitalists and industrialists at the cost of the workers and the rest of the society.

“Reforms are being brought to the labour laws in favour of the management. The rights of the workers and labour unions are being taken away. Excessive overseas investments are being allowed into the railways, defence, and finance sectors. New jobs are not being created as much as they should be. The Centre is also not taking any steps to regulate the prices of essential commodities.

“The central workers union has called for a nationwide strike on September 2 to condemn this attitude of the Centre. Bank officers and employees’ unions will participate in this strike.”

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Salary Revision for Officer Employees of Public Sector Banks governed by Officer’s Service Regulation – 10th Bipartite Settlement for period 1.11.2012 to 31.10.2017

Government of India
Ministry of Finance
Department of Financial Services

Jeevan Deep. IIIrd Floor,
Parliament Street, New Delhi,
Dated the June 19, 2015

To
Sh. M.V.Tanksale,
Chief Executive,
Indian Banks’ Association,
Mumbai.

Subject: Salary Revision for Officer Employees of Public Sector Banks governed by Officer’s Service Regulation – 10th Bipartite Settlement for period 1.11.2012 to 31.10.2017

Sir.
I am directed to refer to your letter No. HR&IR/KSC/GOVT/665 dated 25th May, 2015 on the above subject and to say that Government has ‘No objection‘ to IBA authorizing the Banks to pay revised salary and arrears of pay and allowances to serving officers and revised pension and arrears to existing pension optees retired w.e.f. on or after 1.11.2012 as per the provisions at the Joint Note pending amendments to the Officer’s Service Regulations/Pension Regulations subject to the provisions made by the respective banks in the particular year.

2. As regards declaring 2nd and 4th Saturday as holidays and other Saturdays as full working days is concerned. IBA may rater to this Department’s letter No. 4/1/7/2015-IR dated 2.6.2015.

3. This issues with the approval of Hon’ble Finance Minister

Yours faithfully,

(S R. Mehar)
Deputy Secretary to the Government at India

Source: http://banknewskumar.blogspot.in/

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Mumbai, May 22: Employees of public sector banks, old generation private sector banks and some foreign banks will be a happy lot as they will soon get 15 per cent pay hike, arrears for the last 30 months, and other benefits as part of a deal that the unions and bank managements have reached.

Unions, under the aegis of the United Forum of Bank Unions, and bank managements, represented by the Indian Banks’ Association, have worked out a detailed Bipartite Settlement/ Joint Note and the same will be formalised on May 25.

The benefits that about 7.50 lakh bank employees stand to get are a special pay, a new hospitalisation scheme backed up by insurance and holiday on every second and fourth Saturday in a month.

The back wages (arrears) that bank employees will get for the last 30 months will warm the cockles of their heart. Income tax authorities too will be happy as arrears will be taxable.
S Nagarajan, General Secretary, All India Bank Officers’ Association, said “A special allowance has been introduced for employees… there is a new hospitalisation scheme backed up by insurance.” The wage settlement will benefit 3,04,000 odd officers (as on March 31, 2012) in the banking sector.

Officers will get health insurance cover of Rs. 4 lakh and the clerical and sub-staff will get Rs. 3 lakh cover, he added.

A corporate buffer will be created by banks to reimburse hospitalisation expenditure exceeding the abovementioned limits.

Pointing out that the last wage settlement expired in October 2012, Nagarajan, in a lighter vein, observed that “Five years is the tenure of the wage settlement. We have already exhausted 30 months in coming to a settlement. It’s time now to submit the next charter of demands.”

Vishwas Utagi, Vice President, All India Bank Employees Association, said the wage settlement will benefit about 4.50 lakh clerical and sub-staff in the banking sector.

Bank employees will get close a couple of lakh rupees, on an average, as arrears in gross terms, he explained. Since payrolls are computerised, the arrears could be credited to employees’ accounts in a month.

Utagi said the issue of upgradation of pension of retirees and 100 per cent neutralisation of dearness allowance will be taken up by the United Forum of Bank Unions separately.

Read at: The Hindu Businessline

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All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) published the discussion points in the meeting with Indian Banks Association held on 17th March 2015.

Nearly 26 points were discussed in the meeting and more important issues like construction of Revised Pay Scales, revised DA formula, HRA rates, Transport Pay, introduction of Grade Pay, revision of Special Pay, LFC, revision in other allowances, retirees’ issues, etc. and other issues/ demands would be taken up for discussions in the subsequent rounds of meetings.

DETAILS OF DISCUSSION WITH IBA ON 17.03.2015

Discussions with IBA on 17-03-2015

Units and members are aware that our charter of demands includes demands on improvement in various service conditions apart from increase in wages. Prior to the signing of the Minutes of Discussion on 23-2-2015, there were two rounds of discussions with the IBA on these issues. Yesterday i.e., on 17.03.2015, one more round of discussions took place, during which understandings have been reached on the following issues:

1) ENCASHMENT OF LEAVE: The benefit of encashment of Privilege Leave will be available even in the cases of resignations from the Bank after 20 years of service as well on loss of job due to punishments (other than cases of punishment of Dismissal and cases where there is loss to the Bank).

2) LEAVE: The present stipulation that Casual Leave (CL) upto 4 days can be availed continuously provided the total absence including Sundays and holidays does not exceed more than 6 days would be deleted.

3) Presently Unavailed Casual Leave (UCL) can be availed for a day without production of medical certificate. In addition UCL may be availed without production of medical certificate for 4 days at a time once in a year or 2 days at a time twice in a year.

4) Privilege Leave (PL) can be availed on 4 occasions in a year (as against 3 occasions at present).

5) 15 days’ Notice would be sufficient to avail Privilege Leave (as against 30 days’ notice at present).

6) Privilege Leave can be accumulated upto 270 days (as against the existing ceiling of 240 days). However, encashment upto 240 days would continue as at present.

7) Special Sick Leave with Salary for a maximum period of 30 days would be sanctioned to an employee while on hospitalisation for donation of kidney or any organ.

8) Maternity Leave, within the overall entitlement, would be granted for 60 days (now 45 days) in the case of hysterectomy.

9) Maternity Leave for legal adoption of a child would be 6 months (now 2 months)

10) The above facility of Maternity Leave would also be available to a biological mother in cases where the child is born through surrogacy.

11) Part time employees would also be entitled to Maternity Leave under (9) and (10) above.

12) Paternity Leave would be extended on the lines of Government employees i.e. 15 days at a time on 2 occasions.

13) Study Leave upto 2 years would be sanctioned to workmen employees as available to officers.

14) Sabbatical Leave for women employees would continue to be extended on the lines of government guidelines.

15) Sabbatical Leave for male employees would be referred to the Government for consideration.

16) Extraordinary Leave (without Pay) would be sanctioned upto a max. of 720 days during the entire service (as against the existing ceiling of 12 months).

17) Special Casual Leave for absence due to curfew would include exigencies like riots, prohibitory orders, natural calamities.

18) Special Leave for Sports activities, trekking, mountaineering, etc, would be dealt with at each Bank level.

19) INTRODUCTION OF LEAVE BANK: System of Leave Bank would be introduced by which employees can voluntarily donate a part of their entitled leave to a common pool from out of which leave with salary would be sanctioned to employees who are compelled to be on prolonged leave due to treatment of major diseases/accidents and other contingencies beyond their control and where such employees have exhausted all their leave.

20) Diem Allowance: Diem Allowance payable while on travel on duty would be revised upwardly and quantum would be finalised in the next meeting.

21) When employees travel on duty to another station and stay in a hotel, the room rent would be reimbursed; the eligible rates would be finalised in the next meeting.

22) Transportation of goods while on transfer: An employee while on transfer from one station to another can transport his personal effects by train or road (even if the places are connected by train) upto the stipulated weights by an IBA approved Transport Operator.

23) Compensation for Breakages: Compensation for losses due to breakages or damage to goods while transporting would be reimbursed as under:

Existing amount on production of receipts for Clerks – Rs.1120 to be revised as Rs.1500

Existing amount on production of receipts for Substaff – Rs.745 to be revised as Rs.1000

Existing amount without production of receipts for Clerks – Rs.745 to be revised as Rs.1000

Existing amount without production of receipts for Substaff – Rs.560 to be revised as Rs.750

24) Travel on Duty/on transfer:

Existing for Non-Subordinate employees 1st Class to be revised as AC 2 Tier

Existing for Subordinate employees 2nd Class to be revised as AC 3 Tier

25) Dependents’ Income Criteria: Income limit to define a dependent would be Rs. 10,000/- per month (as against the existing Rs.3,500/- p.m.)

26) Pension for part time employees: The entire service period would be taken for arriving at eligible pension instead of pro-rata service.

Important issues like construction of revised Pay Scales, revised DA formula, HRA rates, Transport Pay, introduction of Grade Pay, revision of Special Pay, LFC, revision in other allowances, retirees’ issues, etc. and other issues/ demands would be taken up for discussions in the subsequent rounds of meetings.

Further development on these issues will be informed to members in due course.

Source: AIBEA

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Likely increase of salary for bank employees

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Indian Banks’ Association

HR & Industrial Relations

No.CIR/HR&IR/Q/2014-15/1137
January 6, 2015

Chief Executives of Member Banks
which are parties to the Bipartite Settlement

Dear Sir/Madam,

Strike Notice by UFBU on 7th January 2015 – Deferred

Please refer to our Circular No.CIR/HR&IR/Q/2014-15/1084 dated 23rd December 2014 regarding the strike call given by the United Forum of Bank Employees (UFBU) on 7th January 2015. In accordance with the submission in conciliation meeting held on 5.1.2015, we had convened meeting with the Unions/Associations on date. On being satisfied with further improvement in offer in wage hike by IBA, the UFBU has decided to defer the strike scheduled on 7th January 2015.

Member banks may kindly take note of the above and convey suitably to all their establishments.

Yours faithfully,
sd/-
K UNNIKRISHNAN
DY. CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Click here to view the original circular

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Indian Banks’ Association said it is the only representative body of banks which acts on the mandate given by the banks for wage settlement, a statement issued here said.

It said IBA’s Negotiating Committee comprise of CMDs of Public Sector Banks as well as Private Sector Banks which are parties to the Bipartite a settlements has started the wage negotiation in justify earnest since October 2012.
It said 14 rounds of discussion have been held and two major issues, i.e., effective date of implementation and merger of DA have been clinched.

“In the past 7th and 8th Bipartite Settlements, the wage increase was between 10 percent and 13 percent. The 9th Bipartite Settlement was an exception as compared to earlier settlements and cannot be quoted as precedent.”

In the current wage settlement, a hike of 11 percent on salary and allowances has been offered based on the paying capacity of all the banks, lower profitability, higher requirements for provisions and further capital requirement under Basel-III, which translates into 12.5 percent on the balance sheet cost that too is unaffordable to some of the banks.

“The issues regarding wage negotiation deliberated in Negotiating Committee of IBA are further discussed in a larger forum, i.e., Managing Committee of IBA and the Chairmen of all the banks were unequivocal in saying that the demand of 23% increase of Unions/Associations is unaffordable, illogical, exorbitant and irrational.”
IBA appealed Unions/Associations to give up the agitational path and return with pragmatic approach to the negotiation table and to resolve the issue through bipartism.

“Despite the appeal made by IBA as well as Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) at the conciliation meetings not to resort to strike and resolve the issue through bipartism, the Unions/Associations went on one day strike on November 12, 14 followed by Zonal relay strikes from December 2 to December 5, 2014.

In the meantime, IBA has requested to all member banks to assess their paying capacity and advise IBA accordingly.

“It is, therefore, apparent that IBA is serious to settle the issue at the earliest and not adopting delayed tactics as alleged by the Unions/Association.”

Source : Rising Kashmir

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