The Hindu Business Line : Strike hits banking operations in Karnataka

The strike was partial in the private sector ING Vysya Bank because the rural branches are dominated by staff who are still on IBA-determined wages.

Bangalore , Sept. 29

THE strike called by the Left-led trade unions was near total in all the public sector banks in Karnataka, sources said.

Both officers and subordinate staff of banks participated in the strike. Only some branches, dominated by the Congress-led INTUC and BMS-affiliated unions, declined to take part, though both these are in a minority in the State.

The strike was partial in the private sector ING Vysya Bank, sources said. This was partly because the rural branches are dominated by staff who are still on IBA-determined wages.

In the metros and major cities, bankofficers are mostly direct recruits outside the wage board, commonly referred to as CTC (CTC) staff. The CTC staff, that comprises at least 35-40 per cent of the bank, remained outside the strike. This was the case in other private sector banks operating in Karnataka.

Our Mangalore Bureau reports: The strike call evoked good response from bankers as most employees of public sector banks and old-generation private sector banks stayed away. Following this, banking operations in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts were affected.

Nearly 400 employees of various banks staged a protest demonstration in front of the main branch of State Bank of India in Mangalore.

Mr T.R. Bhat, Joint General Secretary of the All-India Bank Officers' Confederation, who addressed them, criticised the policy of the Union Government on mergers.

Mr P.R. Karanth, General Secretary of the All-India Karnataka Bank Employees' Association, and representatives of the All-India Bank Employees' Association, All-India Bank Officers' Association, National Confederation of Bank Employees and Bank Employees' Federation of India spoke on the occasion.

Mangalore airport handled all the schedules on Thursday in spite of the Airports Authority of India Joint Workers Forum joining the strike. The Airport Director, Mr M.R. Vasudeva, said all the five schedules were operated smoothly.

The strike evoked mixed response from the public. Though private bus operators began operations in the morning, they had to withdraw schedules following stray incidents of stone pelting in Mangalore.

A majority of autorickshaw operators did not join the strike. Attendance was thin in government offices and private establishments.

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