The Hindu Business Line : Bank employees to go on strike on Dec 16

New Delhi, Nov. 11 As many as four lakh officers and employees from the banking industry are to strike work on December 16 to protest against the proposed merger of State Bank of Indore with State Bank of India and other consolidation attempts in the banking sector.

The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) and the All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA) have given the strike call .

“I had deferred the earlier strike call after an assurance by the SBI and State Bank of Indore management that unions will be consulted before consolidation. Now they are proceeding with the closure of State Bank of Indore without talking to us. They are going back on the commitment given before the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner,” Mr C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of AIBEA, told Business Line.

On July 3, the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner in Delhi held a conciliatory meeting in the wake of the strike call given by the bank unions. At that meeting, the management was advised not to pursue the RBI and Government on the issue of merger. However, on October 31, the board of State Bank of Indore approved the scheme of acquisition by State Bank of India. The Government is yet to give a final approval on the same.