The first day of two-day nationwide bank employees' strike against amendments in the banking regulation act was successful in Gujarat as employees of all public sector banks and some of the private sector banks abstained from work on Wednesday, thereby paralysing the banking operations in the state.
As per an estimate, cheque clearing worth Rs 500 crore is believed to have been affected on the first day of the strike.
"The strike call was successful in Gujarat. Clearing worth Rs 100 crore was affected in Ahmedabad alone. Over 25,000 employees of different public sector banks joined the strike on the first day. The employees also held demonstrations at different places in the state," said Janak Raval, secretary, Maha Gujarat Bank Employees Association.
Bank workers are opposed to banking sector reforms, which are to be brought through amendments in the banking regulation act. Employees of 24 public sector banks, about 12 private banks and 6 foreign banks are believed to have joined the strike. The strike call was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a central body of nine unions of employees and officers of PSU banks.
According to Raval, the employees are protesting against the implementation of the Khandelwal committee report on human resources management in PSU banks. "We are opposing closure of non-performing rural branches of PSU banks. This is a move aimed at encouraging privatisation in banking sector and that is not in the interest of the country," said Raval.
"In order to intensify our pressure on the government, there is a workers' meet organised in New Delhi on September 4," he added.
The striking bank employees are planning to take out a scooter rally in Ahmedabad on Thursday - the second day of the strike.