The Hindu Business Line : Protest is total success, claims bank union

Trade Union leader Mr Gurudas Dasgupta addressing the bank employees on a dharna during a day-long strike to press their demand of early wage revision settlement in the Capital on Tuesday. - Ramesh Sharma

Chennai , Aug. 24

BANKING operations were affected as trade unions went on a one-day strike on Tuesday demanding early conclusion of wage revision talks with the Indian Banks Association (IBA).

Mr C.H. Venkatachalam, Convenor, United Forum of Bank Unions, said, "Today's strike has been a total and thunderous success. In all stations, branches have been kept closed and shutters down because everyone - - employees, officers and workmen have gone on strike. It was very effective and we are very happy about the success".

Asked about the impact of the strike on customer transactions, senior bank officers said that it was minimal. "Most customers knew that the strike was on for quite some time. So they had probably drawn the cash they needed even earlier. Besides, with the availability of automated teller machines (ATMs), customers today have a choice and aren't very dependent on service at the branches".

When Mr Venkatachalam was asked about whether the strike was effective, given the presence of so many ATMs (13,500 of them by industry estimates) besides the working of the new generation private banks, he said, "Basically, the strike is withdrawing my labour and showing my protest. I am happy that 100 per cent of members of unions have participated.

He added, "the success of the strike is measured by the extent to which it is able to paralyse the industry. But to paralyse and inconvenience customers is not the purpose of this strike. It is to make my employer understand that we are united and aggrieved and we want to solve the problem. That way, this strike has been successful. Everybody doesn't go to an ATM".

"My anger is with IBA and theGovernment and not with the customers. We are committed to serving them. We are sorry for the inconvenience. We have no problem if they get some service from the ATM," he stated