UFBU CIRCULAR No. UFBU/2014/35 dt. 12-11-2014

STRONG SIGNAL TO THE ADAMANT IBA
ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE – A GRAND SUCCESS

We are glad to inform the members that the call of UFBU for One Day Protest Strike today, i.e., 12th November 2014, demanding immediate wage revision, is a grand success true to the saying that "If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself".

"The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team." We sincerely place on record our highest appreciation and congratulations to the entire membership for the total success of the One Day All India Protest Strike, demanding immediate wage revision. 


Reports are pouring in from different parts of the country that the banking transactions came to a grinding halt throughout and the Strike is a grand success. We heartily congratulate all the members for their wholehearted participation in the rallies/demonstrations conducted all over the Country displaying the anguish of bank employees over the recalcitrant attitude and callous approach of IBA resulting in undue delay in settlement on wage revision.

The success of the strike is a clear warning signal to the adamant IBA to change its rigid approach and come forward to settle a reasonable wage revision.

UFBU is for a negotiating settlement. The just demands of the bank workmen and officers are not given any cognizance by IBA-Government combine and the UFBU is compelled towards the agitation path as IBA has been so rigid in sticking to its meager offer of 11% increase in pay slip components, despite UFBU’s inclination to slide to 23% from its earlier demand of 25% in order to pave the way for an amicable settlement.

The demands of the bank workmen and officers are reasonable. The reasons attributed by IBA that banks cannot afford a better wage revision to their employees quoting the reducing net profits are not acceptable inasmuch as the Public Sector Banks have registered growth continuously with the operating profits increasing year after year. The UFBU is demanding just adequate wages and nothing extra-ordinary or beyond the capability of banks.

The sincere efforts made by the UFBU to pave the way for an amicable settlement, in the bipartite meeting held by IBA on 10th instant were futile and the subsequent Conciliation Meeting held by the Chief Labour Commissioner ended inconclusively resulting in the inevitable One Day Strike today.

Let us continue to show the strength of our Unity in ensuring success in all the remaining action programmes decided by UFBU. Comrades – Move ahead with the same strength and more vigor and ensure great success to the Relay Zonal Strikes starting from 2nd to 5th December 2014 and all the future programmes, as decided by UFBU.

We heartily thank the trade union fraternity in the banking industry and its entire membership for their wholehearted support. We sincerely thank the United Forum of Reserve Bank Officers and Employees, All India Insurance Employees Association and all the other trade unions for extending their fraternal support to our justifiable cause.

March on - March on – Struggle Ahead – March on
Let us stop not till our goal is achieved.

Sd/- M V Murali
Convener

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Report of AIBOC.....

We take pride in sharing the reports received from various States. Our salutation to
fighting comrades of the Jaharkhand Unit of UFBU, who took out a rally despite
promulgation of code of conduct and section 144, showing their steely resolve to the
Hon’ble Finance Minister, who was present in the city of Ranchi on 11th November, 2014.
Nearly 700 comrades, including hundreds of lady comrades fearlessly participating in the
protest rally were taken into custody and were released in half an hour. On the strike day
also in the demonstrations, more than 500 comrades participated in front of BOI, Zonal
Office, Ranchi and approximately 800 comrades participated at State Bank of India, Zonal
Office, Ranchi.
The capital, Delhi witnessed a mammoth gathering of nearly four thousand comrades,
including lady comrades and young DROs, demonstrating in front of SBI, Parliament
Street Branch, which is in proximity of Department of Financial services (DFS). It was
addressed by leaders of all nine constituents of UFBU, including your General secretary.
The correspondents from various TV channels were present and gave live coverage.
Hundreds of young DROs from AIBOC stood with placards demanding decent wage
settlement and displaying comparison of salaries, on the roads of famous Connaught
Place as well as opposite office of DFS. This attracted attention of a huge number of
general public as well as DFS officials and facilitated in spreading awareness among
common public towards the fate of the bank employees and officers. Later in the evening
a live discussion with the undersigned on the issue of wage settlement was telecasted at
‘Rajya Sabha TV’ - a prestigious channel.
Bank officers and employees took out protest rallies across the State of Kerala. In
Thiruvananthapuram, a huge rally was taken out on 11th November 2014 evening where
more than 1500 bank officers and employees participated. On 12th November, the protest
demonstration was inaugurated by Com.V S Achuthanandan, Leader of Opposition, Kerala
Legistlative Assembly and veteran communist leader. It was also addressed by Com.
Panniyan Raveendran, Secretary, CPI, Kerala State Committee. Thereafter a huge rally comprising of more than 2500 officers with almost 50% ladies was taken out to the RBI
office. At Ernakulam, massive dharna in which more than 1000 comrades participated and
which was inaugurated by Ex MP and CITU State GS Com. Chandran Pillai, INTUC state
General Secretary, V.P George, Com. C.D. Josan the UFBU State Convenor and other
leaders from fraternal organization of LIC and GIC also addressed.
Comrades from Chennai exhibited exemplary enthusiasm when braving the rains more
than 4000 comrades including large number of women and younger generation officers
assembled near Valluvar Kottam, Nungambakkam for the demonstration. Red salute to all
comrades and representatives who ensured good participation. Even the Nature bowed
down to their determination, when rain stopped at 10 am for a few hours.
Mumbai also reverberated with a massive show of strength when more than 10,000
members thronged the historic Azad Madan near CST Railway Station. There was huge
turn out of officers including lady officers and DROs from AIBOC. More than 2000 officers
and workmen participated in demonstration held at Pune. In Nagpur 1000 comrades
gathered in front of zonal office of Bank of India, Kingsway Nagpur for the demonstration.
Apart from other centers of Maharashtra, Goa also organized a rally at Azad Madaan,
Panaji where more than 500 members participated.
In West Bengal, massive demonstrations were held at Kolkata. Guwahati and Tripura
have also sent reports of successful demonstrations. There are reports of huge UFBU
demonstration held in Gujrat including at Ashram Road Ahmedabad as well as at cities of
Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhuj etc. In Chandigarh approximately 3000 members gathered
at banks square in front of Bank of India, in MP, demonstration were held in Raipur,
Khandwa, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Gwalior and other centres apart from Bhopal where
more than 800 comrades gathered.
Comrades, we have once again proved our unity, solidarity and dedication to the cause.
The strike call was a thunderous success ! Kudos and Salutation to our unity ! The news
of strike has been covered widely at all centres by electronic and print media. Let us
continue to forge ahead with our movement by implementing the agitational calls of
‘withdrawl of extra co-operation’ and relay strike from 2nd to 5th December, 2014, as
already advised.
With revolutionary greetings,
Yours comradely,
(HARVINDER SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY
OUR UNITY LONG LIVE