UFBU CIRCULAR:45 dt.04.02.2015

Is there any assurance that this time Strike will not be cancelled?
Unless IBA offer is satisfactory/upto expctations of comrades
( not to the satisfaction of one constituent of UBFU)
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• IBA BACKTRACKS FROM ITS ASSURANCE – 
        OFFERS A PALTRY 0.5% INCREASE
• UFBU DECIDES TO REVIVE THE STRIKE PROGRAMMES
• CALLS FOR 4 DAYS’ STRIKE FROM 25th to 28th FEBRUARY 2015
• INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 16th MARCH 2015

In our earlier Circular No.UFBU/2015/44 dated 19-1-2015, 
we had informed that in the background of the assurance 
given by IBA towards expeditious wage settlement and 
considering the positive developments since last conciliation meeting 
held on 5th January 2015, UFBU had put on hold its call 
for 4 days’ strike from 21st January 2015.  

In this background another round of negotiations between IBA and UFBU 
was held in Mumbai yesterday (i.e., 3rd February 2015).  
Subsequent to a general reporting of the discussions held in the meetings 
of the three  Sub-Committees on 
(i) Employees’ service conditions, 
(ii) Officers’ service conditions and 
(iii) revised medical reimbursement scheme, 

the important issue of further improvement in the wage increase offer 
came up for discussion.  
IBA sought the view of UFBU about revising its demand from 19.5% 
in order to arrive at a final deal.  
UFBU informed IBA that the wage increase offer needs to be 
substantially improved by IBA as assured and accordingly 
UFBU would negotiate further to reach a final accord.  
Quoting, once again, the strenuous financial performance of various Banks,
IBA informed that the banks are not in a position to accept the 
demand of the UFBU.  
After prolonged discussions, IBA finally proposed to improve their 
offer from 12.5% to 13% and expected UFBU to scale down its demand.   

Since the increase in offer of 0.5% by IBA was paltry, inadequate and not satisfactory, UFBU met thereafter and decided to revive the strike programmes as under:

9th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
13th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
20th February 2015 Badge Wearing & Demonstrations
23rd February 2015 Press Meet in all State capitals
24th February 2015 Centralised Demonstrations at all centres
25th to 28th February 2015 FOUR DAYS’ ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE
2nd to 14th March 2015 Further preparatory programmes
16th March onwards INDEFINITE STRIKE

Comrades, the sincere and persuasive efforts of UFBU to 
negotiate a reasonable and mutually acceptable wage increase are 
being misunderstood by the IBA and the Government as its weakness.  
With utmost patience, for the past two years, UFBU has been making 
its best efforts to settle the demands amicably.  
At every point of time, we have shown our flexibility.  
But unfortunately, it is not being reciprocated by the IBA.

When the entire workforce in the banking industry is making every effort 
to implement the various programmes of the Government including 
the recent Jan Dhan Yojana, when employees and officers are working 
under lot of stress and maximum difficulty due to manpower shortage 
and increased volume of work, it is regrettable that the Government 
is remaining a passive spectator without initiating any steps to 
find an amicable solution to the genuine expectations of  bank employees 
for a better and reasonable wage revision.  

UFBU has been once again pushed to the path of struggle.  
We call upon all our units and the entire membership to rise as one 
and plunge into action to implement the programmes successfully.

State-level UFBU meetings should be held immediately to plan out the 
steps to be initiated for making all the programmes a total success.

Comrades - March ahead with solidarity and unity – 
Let us exhibit clearly that our united movement brings 
Success and success alone.....

“WE SHALL FIGHT – WE SHALL FIGHT – TILL WE SUCCEED – WE SHALL FIGHT”

Sd. M V Murali,
Convener