The All India Bank Officers' Confederation (Aiboc) will go on a strike if the issue relating to wage revision in the three weak banks, namely, Uco Bank, the United Bank of India (UBI) and the Indian Bank, is not settled on May 31. The decision was taken following the failure of the union to come to any settlement with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) on Thursday.
Aiboc's strike scheduled for April 26 was deferred only on the assurance of IBA that the issue will be settled by May 26. A joint note in this regard was signed by the unions on December 14, 1999.
But since the issue is still unresolved, the regional labour commissioner, who also attended the meeting, adjourned it to May 31. Aiboc complained that the IBA is dragging the matter unnecessarily. The meeting on Thursday was attended by Aiboc general secretary S R Sengupta and members of the All India Bank Officer's Association (Aiboa). IBA was represented by Yogesh Chandra, personnel advisor, industrial relations and Allen C Pereira, personnel advisor, human relations.
The representatives of the IBA assured that the process has been initiated for the resolution of the issue of payment of the revised salaries in the three weak banks. The chairmen of the three banks met the finance ministry on May 22. The solution lies in having a constant dialogue with the Centre and the three banks, according to IBA.
While Aiboc is apprehensive that the awards settlement with the workers will not materialise, this apprehension was not shared by Tarakeshwar Chakraborti, general secretary of All India Bank Employees' Association (Aibea). " We are optimistic about reaching a solution to this problem," he said.
The three weak banks have not factored in the wage revision that is to become effective from November 1997.
