New Delhi, May 02: Paralysing the country's financial sector, officers of 26 public sector banks today went on a nationwide strike in protest against the delay in meeting their demands including an early wage revision. "Except Bank of Baroda, new generation private banks and foreign banks, over 2.5 lakh officers of 26 PSU banks is observing the token strike today," National Organisation of Bank Officers deputy general secretary, S K Rathore, said from Jaipur.
All India Reserve Bank Officers Association did not participate in the strike but lent moral support, he said. The strike has been called by three leading unions -- National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), Rathore said. The Indian Banks Association described the strike as "unjustified".
But, the unions went ahead with their plan to strike as no understanding was reached in the wage negotiations with government till April 30.
Issues like recruitment and promotion policies, disciplinary proceedings and relief to officers due to the impact of VRS have remain unresolved, NOBO, an affiliate of BJP's Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, said. NOBO said government discriminates between its own employees and the bank staff in income tax perquisites and the Centre should make efforts to bring it to an end.
Bureau Report