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Bank unions divided over strike call

MUMBAI: The voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) and the scheme for sabbatical leave prepared by the Indian Banks' Association and recently approved by the Government have created discontent among the constituents of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

Some of the constituents are not happy with the UFBU leadership's decision to oppose VRS at the cost of ``other more pertinent issues''.

Some individual bank unions, such as the All-India Central Bank Employees' Congress (AICBEC) and the Union Bank Employees Trade Union Congress (UBETUC), have instructed their members to not co-operate with the agitation planned by UFBU against VRS.

They feel that the forum leaders are diverting the attention of bank employees from the more crucial issue of pension and privatisation. They say that though they fully support the forum's opposition to privatisation, they would not stop their members fr om opting for VRS if they wish to.

The AICBEC, in a communication to its members, has said that the ``vociferous campaign being launched against the proposed VRS is unjustified''.

Other unions in the forum too are debating the issue and are likely to soon take a decision on response to the agitation call. -- Our Bureau