The Hindu Business Line : Officers' body takes up cause of sacked HSBC staff

THE Maharashtra State Committee of the All-India Bank Officers' Association has taken up the cause of two HSBC officers whose services were recently terminated. The AIBOA says the termination is illegal, as these officers were not served prior notice in spite of having over 15 years of service.

The AIBOA, in talks with the bank management, asked it to withdraw the termination. It also said it may take action, such as boycotting the bank's instruments in the clearing house, if the termination is not revoked.

Mr S. Nagarajan, General Secretary of the AIBOA, said, "Recently, HSBC retrenched an officer by offering a huge compensation. Now, two officers have been issued termination letters and asked not to report to work from the next day. These are tactics of the bank's management to break the morale of the employees and enforce retrenchment."

In both cases, the reason cited was poor performance.

"Both these officers have put in 15 years and 25 years of service. They should have first been served a notice or been warned in writing about their poor performance. But that was not done. That is why the termination is illegal," Mr Nagarajan said.

The state committee office-bearers of AIBOA met HSBC's human resource department over this issue. However, as there was no response, the AIBOA said it may be forced to hold demonstrations or even boycott HSBC's instruments in the clearinghouse, thereby curbing the bank's profits.

"One reason bank unions are opposing foreign banks coming into India is this fear of forced retrenchment, as is happening in this case," Mr Nagarajan said.

In response to AIBOA's stand, Ms Malini Thadani, Senior Vice-President and Head Public Affairs, HSBC India, said, "HSBC has a well-defined and transparent performance management policy. Adequate counselling and opportunity for improvement is clearly enshrined here. As the matter referred to is confidential between the employees and ourselves, we are not in a position to comment any further."

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