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;

*Accounts to be opened under Jan Dhan Yojana:

While appreciating and extending the support of UFBU to the initiatives taken by the Government towards extension of banking facility to all the people in the Country, UFBU expressed the following apprehensions:

*The compromises on KYC norms may lead to opening of fraudulent accounts for which employees should not be held accountable;

*The pressure due to the targets stipulated for opening of accounts are greatly affecting the regular banking activities and services to existing customers;

*Due to the stipulation on timings for opening of accounts from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m., employees are forced to work beyond their working hours and are also under severe stress to achieve the stipulated target.

During the negotiations, IBA informed that the UFBU's demand of 25% increase in pay slip components is on high side and beyond the paying capacity of banks and insisted that UFBU should review its demand, to which UFBU responded as under:

*IBA should substantially revise its offer of increase in pay slip components;

*The other important issues like regulated working hours, 5-day banking, improvements in pension related matters, etc. should be discussed simultaneously and in a time-bound manner;

*The meetings on negotiation have to be held regularly at frequent intervals ensuring expeditious settlement;

*UFBU will have flexibility in its demand depending upon the response of IBA on all the above matters.

IBA assured us to schedule the next round of meeting within one week to discuss comprehensively on all the issues.  Comrades - every effort is being made by UFBU not only for expeditious conclusion but also for a respectable Tenth Bipartite Wage Settlement.  Let us continue to maintain our unity which would strengthen us in achieving our goals.  Further developments will be advised in due course.

M.V. MURAI

CONVENOR

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read the following circular by NUBU which is not a constituent of UFBU but is a negotiating union:

NATIONAL UNION OF BANK EMPLOYEES
(Regd No.3415 / CNI dated 29-07-2011)
Administrative Office: 763, Anna Salai, Chennai – 600 002.
CIRCULAR NO.06 / 2014 DATE : 17-09-2014

Dear Comrades,

MEETING WITH IBA ON WAGE REVISION TALKS

Today (17/09/2014) yet another meeting of the negotiating committee for 10th Bipartite Wage Revision took place in Mumbai, the undersigned on behalf of NUBE took part in the negotiations along with ten other unions.

 Mr.T.M.Bhasin the newly elected Chairman of IBA in his initial remark gave a brief of the present banking scenario and also explained in detail about the importance of banks’ profitability and paying capacity.

Mr. Rajiv Rishi, the new Chairman of the Negotiating Committee followed it by telling that it would not be possible for IBA to agree to the demands of the Unions for a hike of 25% since the banks were not doing well and the results of the first quarter were not rosy. Further he insisted that other issues should be discussed first and then we decide on the wage factor.

NUBE strongly objected to the stand of IBA and said that postponing a cardinal issue like wage load and discussing on other issues which can be settled simultaneously is nothing but dilly dallying.

Already nearly 8.5 lac Bank men are anxiously waiting for approximately two years patiently and their patience cannot be further tested. The Chairman negotiating committee wanted the unions to reduce their demand of 25% to which some unions agreed provided IBA also raises their offer.

IBA has not offered anything beyond 11% and the meeting concluded with a understanding that we will meet shortly. The way the talks are proceeding, we do not think that there would be any progress in the days to come.

Comrades from the above it is very clear that IBA is in no mood to settle the issue amicably. Their stubbornness is only making the Bank employees restless and paving a path for agitational programmes which is not good for the Industry.

However, we are left with no other alternative than to struggle if not we will be meekly surrendering to the dictates of IBA and history will not pardon us. So let us march ahead and struggle unitedly.

Yours Comradely,

(L.BALASUBRAMANIAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
NUBE