"Bank Workers Forum" editorial:

                                           

United Forum of Bank Unions is a united platform of bank employees for struggle.                                    

Along with the unity for struggle, struggle for unity is a part of it. 

Many a times we may have to struggle for united actions inside this platform also. 

It is quite natural in a movement where pro-struggle, anti-struggle and struggle-averse elements rally together.

It is true that from the very beginning, UFBU could not react firmly towards the adamant attitude adopted by the bank management.

 UFBU decided for serious agitation for wage revision only after the leaders were forced to rise up to the expectation of the common employees. 

Even after the declaration of strike, the bank management continued their negative attitude.  

Offering a humiliating wage increase to the employees, IBA’s advice to them was to accept their offer, withdraw the strike and sign the settlement.

Obviously UFBU rejected the offer and went ahead with agitation programs.  

But reacting favorably to the offer of the management, one organization wanted to withdraw

UFBU AND AIBOC circular on talks dt 26.09.2014

Text of UFBU circular on Wage revision Talks on 26.09.2014:

Further to the last round of meeting held on 17^th instant, another round of bipartite meeting was held with the IBA today (26.9.2014). 

IBA was represented by Shri Rajeev Rishi (CMD Central Bank of India), Chairman of the Negotiating Committee along with other members of the Negotiating Committee. UFBU was represented by all its constituent unions.

In today's meeting there was a detailed discussion on our demand for 100% reimbursement of hospitalisation expenses incurred by the employees/officers and their family members and the group mediclaim scheme offered by the IBA in response thereto. 

We explained our various apprehensions about the implementation of the scheme and hassle-free reimbursement of claims thereunder. We reiterated that employees/officers should not be required to deal directly with the insurance company or their Third Party Administrators.

IBA has agreed and accordingly clarified that even though employees would be covered by the mediclaim scheme, they would continue to submit their claims to the management as hitherto and the reimbursement would be made by the Banks with the improved benefits of the scheme accruing to the employees. 

IBA also agreed to incorporate the suggestions submitted by the UFBU while finalising the scheme.  Hence a broad in-principle consensus was mutually agreed upon and the final scheme would be worked out accordingly on the above lines.

CHV EXPLAINS!

Com.C.H.Venkatachalam G.S. /AIBEA explains
His(union) stand on wage revision talks.
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Reg: Present wage revision negotiiation
Dear Comrades,

The next round of Bipartite Talks between IBA and UFBU will be held at 10 am on 26th September, 2014.
In the last round of Talks held on 17th instant, during the UFBU meeting, 
we have already conveyed our view that a flexible approach should be taken so that we can compel IBA to come up in their offer.
We will again reiterate our position as per the decision of Kolkata GC meeting. 
The point is that the gap between our demand and IBA's offer should be narrowed down so that we can move towards a settlement at a reasonable and mutually acceptable level and if IBA would still be adamant, we have to resort to agitation.
We hope that all of us understand the situation properly.

We also observe that there are also overt and covert, motivated and malevolent campaign against AIBEA which is nothing new for us as it happens during every wage revision settlement. Additionally, young employees, mostly officers, are being instigated and misled by vested interests. 

Letter received through e-mail!

Respected Hon. Prime Minister

ShriNarendraModiji,                                                                                                                                                                                Dt:20-09-2014

I am XXXXXXXX clerk in one of the nationalized bank in INDIA. You may/may not read this mail, but on behalf of 9 lak bankers I want to bring some facts to your notice.

1.       Sir, from last 4 decades the bankers became “Hell Boy”, who should serve the country, but no one thinks about his basic needs.

2.       For effective execution of welfare schemes to poor people, only hope is bankers. Bankers also ready to serve the INDIA and we put all efforts to success those welfare schemes even from Financial Inclusion to present PMJDY.

3.       Among all sectors in INDIA, Only banking sector generated profits even in 2008 economic recession.

4.       IBA in its first meeting with banking union, they offered 5% increase. I don’t know what should I comment on this. The only sector in India who got 5% offer (for period of 5 years) might be bankers only.(including Those IBA negotiation committee members).

5.       Sir,Forget about  living wage and fair wage, but we are struggling for minimum wage.

6.       Some people claiming that “Bankers are demanding high wage revision”, and I am requesting you to go through this following table and come to conclusion.

Regulated working hours for Officers!

ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS' CONFEDERATION  (AIBOC)
ALL  INDIA  BANK  OFFICERS'  ASSOCIATION (AIBOA)
INDIAN NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS' CONGRESS (INBOC)
NATIONAL ORGANISATION OF BANK OFFICERS (NOBO)


17.09.2014


The Chairman
Indian Banks Association
MUMBAI


Sir,

REG:              Regulated Working hours
REF:              Our letter dated 20.01.2009

While, we note with appreciation that IBA is inclined to address issue referred herein above, we hereby submit that pending scientific manpower exercise to be undertaken to arrive at a standardisation at all Banks on urgent basis the following points are to be considered for early implementation.

[a]        The working hours for Bank Officers should be 6.30 hrs on week days and 4 hours on Saturday with a lunch recess of 30 minutes to 45 minutes

talks 0n 17.09.2014

AIBEA  CIRCULAR No.27/75/2014/31DT.18^th September, 2014

Says ……

During the UFBU meeting, from AIBEA we have explained our position in terms of our General Council meeting decision that the settlement should be expedited and UFBU should adopt a practical approach to arrive at a mutually acceptable wage revision and keeping in mind all other demands raised by the Unions.  IBA informed that the next round of meeting will be held within a week.  We will take stock of the developments during further negotiations and take suitable decision to achieve our long pending wage revision settlement.

C.H. VENKATACHALAM

GENERAL   SECRETARY

UFBU CIRCULAR 2014/28 DT.17.09.2014  Says

…………. Compassionate Appointment Scheme:

While thanking the IBA for its efforts and being instrumental in getting clearance of the Government for introduction of Compassionate Appointment Scheme on the lines available to Central Government employees, UFBU sought clarifications on issues like eligibility, applicability with regard to death cases prior to 05.08.2014, etc., to which IBA conveyed that the matter would be referred to Government and necessary clarifications will be issued on receipt of their advices;

TRIBUTE TO PERIYAR ON 135TH BIRTH DAY!

Erode Venkata Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), affectionately called by his followers as Periyar, Thanthai Periyar or E. V. R., was a social activist, politician and businessman, who started the Self-Respect Movement or the Dravidian Movement and proposed the creation of an independent state called Dravida Nadu, comprising the states of South India. He is also the founder of political party, Dravidar Kazhagam.

Periyar was born in Erode, Madras Presidency to a wealthy family ofBalijas. At a young age, he witnessed numerous incidents of racial, caste and gender discrimination

Periyar joined the Indian National Congress in 1919, but resigned in 1925 when he felt that the party was only serving the interests of the Brahmins. In 1924, Periyar led a non-violent agitation (satyagraha) in Vaikom, Kerala. From 1929 to 1932 toured Malaysia, Europe, and Russia, which had an influence on him. 1939, Periyar became the head of the Justice Party, and in 1944, he changed its name to Dravidar Kazhagam. The party later split and one group led by C. N. Annadurai formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949. While continuing the Self-Respect Movement, he advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu (Dravidistan).

CATCH THEM YOUNG!

****************************************************

THE TIMES OF INDIA

Public sector bank employees protest against low pay, ‘punishing’ work conditions

Rakhi Chakrabarty, TNN | Sep 14, 2014, 05.35AM IST

NEW DELHI: A group of employees of public sector banks has tapped social media to mobilise support for their demands, including pay parity with other central government staff.On Saturday, members of the Facebook group — Young Indian Bankers' Association (YIBA) — gathered in Delhi to protest against low pay and "punishing" working conditions. Members of All India Ex-Servicemen Bank Employees' Federation, too, joined them in support of their demands. They submitted a memorandum to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Saransh Srivastav, an officer at State Bank of India, Kanpur, initiated the Facebook group to rally support for their eight-point demand charter.

Speaking to TOI, Srivastav said, "These are long-pending demands, but bank unions have been doing nothing about them. So, we decided to form this group which has members irrespective of their union affiliation or grade. This group is independent of existing bank unions." 

"NOT LESS THAN 20% ON PAY SLIP COST!"

Every bank employee is expecting, finality could be reached on 17.09.2014 meeting of IBA and UFBU.

Some comrades predict that some understanding were there between some union and IBA. That prediction varies from 13.5% to 15%. One optimistic comrade says it is 18.5% that Modi govt. has inclined to give.

One comrade says 17.09.2014 is birth day of our P.M.

I wish to reproduce what is my expectation in total % in wage revision and expectations/modification in individual headings from my earlier posts.

(post dt.18.01.14)

In my personal view a settlement with increase in pay slip cost of

 15%plus =fair

 20%plus =good

 25%plus =best

(post dt.25.06.2012)

10th BIPARTITE SETTLEMENT and MY SUGGESTIONS !!

Some information for those family members of the employees who died before 05.08.2014:

1.compassionate appointment is applicable for those who died 
on or after 05.08.2014.

2. Ex-gratia is applicable for those who died from July 2004 to 04.08.2014 
subject to certain conditions.

This is the clear message I want to inform to 
family members of the deceased employees.

There are three types of family members of the deceased employees.

1. Those who applied for ex-gratia and got.

2. Those who applied but not sanctioned.

3. Those who did not applied at all for ex-gratia

    (With the hope of getting appointment one day or other) .

Those who come under category 2 and 3 may approach Union in which the deceased

was a member for redressal.

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About the scheme restored from 05.08.2014 (as per AIBEA Circular)  :

This Scheme as approved by the Government will be effective from 5-8-2014 i.e. it would cover cases of deaths of employees and officers from and after 5-8-2014.  There are anxious queries about the past cases.  We shall take up the same is due course and developments, if any, would be informed thereafter.