Press Trust of India Close to 1 million employees of various banks, including private lenders, have called for a one-day strike on December 26 to protest against the proposed amalgamation of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda.
The strike call comes on the heels of an officers union of state-run banks observing a day-long strike last Friday on similar grounds along with the demand for immediate settlement of the wage negotiations.
In September, the government had announced the merger of state-owned Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank, both under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework of the RBI, with Bank of Baroda, creating the third largest lender.
“This amalgamation is not in the interest of banks or bank customers. It is rather detrimental to both,” the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) said.
The UFBU is an umbrella organisation for nine unions, including the All-India Bank Officers Confederation, the All- India Bank Employees Association and the National Organisation of Bank Workers, among others.
Strike on Wednesday
On December 26, the unions will take out a rally and hold a demonstration at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai.
Around 3.20 lakh officers from various state-run banks were on a one-day strike on December 21, seeking immediate wage revision and opposing the proposed merger.
Bank managements have mandated the industry lobby Indian Bank Association (IBA) to negotiate for scale 1-3 but unions want this to be raised up to scale 7.
The wage talks have been on for the past 13 months between the unions and the IBA, the latter has offered a wage revision of just 8 per cent.