UFBEU calls for two-day nationwide bank strike, Aug 6-7

The United Forum of Bank Employees Unions (UFBEU) representing about 950,000 bank employees across the country, has given a two-day nation-wide bank strike call on August 6 and 7 in support of their expedite settlement of wage revision demands.

Talking to PTI on phone today UFBEU Convenor H Venkatachalam blamed the Union government and the Indian Banks Association (IBA) for forcing them to go on strike in support of their wage revision demands, due since 2007.

He said the decision on the two-day nationwide bank strike on August 6 and 7 is taken after failure of meeting of UFBEU delegation with IBA president on Tuesday as it did not yield results. The demands include resumption of talks and expedite settlement, Venkatachalam said.

Venkatachalam reminded that, further to the talks held on June 9th last, the IBA had made an offer of 17.5% increase in wage bill. "However, unfortunately on June 17th, the IBA informed us that their offer stands withdrawn and reduced it to 15 per cent," Venkatachalam said.

The UFBEU met the Chairman of IBA on Tuesday and made it clear that the IBA's reduced offer is totally unacceptable besides being provocative.