Staff union opposes IDBI's transfer policy

Long distance transfers of peons and sweepers in the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) has created unrest among the employees, who have challenged the transfer policy by threatening to go on an indefinite strike.

The crisis erupted 13 months after the merger of erstwhile United Western Bank (UWB) with the IDBI. The union alleged that the bank is resorting to transfers in order to compel the former UBI employees to submit resignation.

According to AB Deshpande, vice-president of the National Union of Bank Workers (NUBW), the IDBI's management has, for the first time since the merger, transferred about 350 peons and sweepers to destinations as far as 1,000 km, where they had to face inconvenience.

"The matter was submitted to the central labour commissioner but the management did not show any positive response. The employees had to, therefore, resort to the recent token strike. If the management fails to change its policy, indefinite strike is the only alternative," Deshpande said.

IDBI officials were not available for comment.