Sep 2nd, 2015 Strike:update:

Despite a softening of stand by the government, 10 of the 11 Central trade unions on Friday decided to go ahead with a country wide strike on September 2.
RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh is understood to have called for deferring the strike in order to let the government deliver on its promises.
“Trade unions will go ahead with September 2 strike,” said INTUC president G
 Sanjeeva Reddy after a three-hour long meeting of union leaders.
“BMS has opted out of the strike and has requested all the 10 trade unions to reconsider their stand as they want the government to try and work on their promises. But all the other trade unions have decided to go ahead with the strike,” said AK Padmanabhan, president, Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).
=>Indian Express.
Now, it is understand that Five unions out of 9 unions in UFBU will participate
in the September 2nd, 2015 Strike.
(AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEC,INBEF)
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said payment systems will not be operated on second and fourth Saturdays but would operate for full day on working Saturdays.
Payment systems typically includes Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT), Cheque Clearing operated by various Bankers' Clearing Houses in the country including the grid based Cheque Truncation System (CTS) and ECS suite Electronic Clearing Service (ECS), Regional Electronic Clearing Service (RECS) and National Electronic Clearing Service (NECS).

Processing of future value dated transactions with value date falling on second and fourth Saturdays will not be undertaken under RTGS and ECS suite.
=>BusinessLine

Last Half day working Saturday

This Blog is fast approaching One Crore Hits!

Few words at a time, my Blog is fast approaching One Crore Hits!

My Face Book page has more than 12000 likes/ followers.
It is an open ID, hence comrades can read without marking a like also. Hence total reach (of face book page) can’t be counted. It has maximum participation by comrades by way of like/comment/share among Banking oriented face book pages.  

My objective is to pass on all the information,

Whatever I am receiving /reading , thro e-mail and from websites of all unions. 

I am answering doubts/queries raised by comrades with my little knowledge( read from settlements and various circulars.)  and from my experience. I am posting only authentic news.

Union websites serve one way communication only.

Comrades want to express their view on various issues.

Hence I decided to start a platform for two way communication.

That is the birth of Indian Bank Kumar BLOG/face book page.

I started my Blog in Sep 2010. My blog may not look perfect in designing or look.
With my little practical knowledge in computer, by trial and error, I am managing the blog. Initially very few comrades follow and read.

Slowly it picks up, that too, after November 2012, as the 10^th B.P.S talks started.

On reading the comments posted so far,I wish to appeal you to

Read the history of trade union movement, 

Read circulars, 

Attend union meetings, 

Attend Dharnas/Demos, 

Know Labour laws/provisions

Avoid ill conceived/motivated mind set on unions, 

Strike on 2nd Sep 2015

Strike on 2nd Sep, 2015:
Govt assured on Bonus enhancement, Wages formula etc.,
The offer has not met the expectations of the majority of trade unions barring the RSS/BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh. All the 12 central trade unions will meet again today (Friday) to take a view on the government's latest proposal after which a final decision on the upcoming strike will be taken. 

Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Labour & Employment

27-August-2015 21:05 IST

Inter Ministerial Committee Holds Wider Consultations with Trade Unions on Charter of Demands Appeals to Reconsider Proposed Call for Strike in View of Discussions

The Second meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) continued discussion on 12 Demands Charter of Trade Unions for the second day here today in continuation of discussions held yesterday. The Committee comprises Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, MoS(IC) Labour and Employment, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MOS(IC) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Jitendra Singh, MoS DOPT, and Shri Piyush Goel, MoS (IC),Power. During the discussions Trade Unions expressed concern and asked for clarifications on their demands. Addressing their concerns and expectations, the Finance Minister explained policies on which the Government is working and assured that the Government is committed to welfare of labour. Underlining the importance of role of Trade Unions, Shri Jaitely assured the Central Trade Unions that all labour laws reforms will be done with due discussions and tripartite consultations.

In view of the discussions held in conducive and cordial atmosphere, the IMC appealed to Trade Unions to reconsider the proposed call for strike on 2nd September, 2015.The Trade Unions have agreed to consider the appeal.

In view of the suggestions given by Central Trade Unions in the meetings held on 19th July, 26th August and 27th August, 2015, the Government assured the following :

1. Appropriate legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable to all employees across the country.

2. For the purposes of bonus the wage eligibility limit and calculation ceiling would be appropriately revised. Earlier in 2006-07 the calculation ceiling was decided at Rs.3500/- and eligibility limit was wage of Rs.10,000/- per month which is proposed to be revised to Rs.7,000 and Rs.21,000 respectively.

SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya takes a U-turn!

Payment banks:
SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya takes a U-turn, sees an 'opportunity' for banking system.

In a U-turn from her earlier stated position on the entry of payments banks, SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya on Tuesday said there is nothing negative about them and there is a huge opportunity for the entire banking system.

"I want to very clearly say that there is nothing to be negative about the payments banks. Because whenever you have challenge, the other side of the coin is an opportunity.

And I think if we don't realise it then nobody else would do so," Bhattacharya said at the annual bankers summit Fibac here this evening.

"With this new competition, I think there is a huge opportunity out there for the entire banking sector. And this opportunity is for us to take," she said.

Government to review perquisites for RRB employees!

About 82,000 regional rural bank employees have been left in the lurch with the government holding back proposals to pay allowances to them even as their peers in nationalised banks get it. 

Payments under the heads such as medical aid, leave fare concession and transfer allowance form important part of their earnings but the government said it would review it before taking a final decision, making a sizeable chunk of bank employees unhappy. India has over 10 lakh bankers across the spectrum.

"The `other allowances' are under examination of the government and the same will be conveyed in due course," the ministry of finance said in a note to chairmen of RRBs. The government owns 50 per cent in all RRBs. 

What Unions warned all along is endorsed by SBI Chief!!

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Private banks cannibalising business of PSU banks:
SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya

MUMBAI: Chairman of State Bank of India(SBI) Arundhati Bhattacharya said that private banks are doing well because they are cannibalising the customer base of PSU banks and warned that they will have to be prepared for a stiff competition from their peers.

"Its a dog eat dog world," SBI chief said while urging the government to provide more capital for growth as private banks are taking away the business they funded in to support the economic growth during 2008-09 boom.

"If we had not been supporting business during 2008-09, boom would not have happened, infrastructure you see today would not have happened if the government did not have PSBs then. Why did the private sector not participate? Because they saw the risk and stayed out,"

Impact of Payments Banks!

SBI chief is more right than Raghuram Rajan on the threat from payment banks

Reuters

According to BusinessLine,
Rajan, who gave licences to 11 payment banks on 19 August, had this to day:
“I don’t think these 11 new banks are a threat to the existing banks.
These new banks will complement the existing system by traversing the last mile.
The reason for this is that there is nothing the universal banks cannot do that the payments banks can do.
But there are some…..things that the payments banks can’t do which the universal banks can.”

To which Bhattacharya offered a counter.:
Since payment banks are allowed to raise savings deposits, “if they go for poaching rates, then many of the commercial banks could lose a portion of the deposits which are relatively lower priced.” This may affect their “ability to transmit rates and give further loans at lower rates.”

Actually, both Rajan and Arundhati are right – and wrong.
The SBI chief is more right than Rajan.

First,
the new payment banks are already big players, and they are not entering the game only to serve the last mile beyond where banks can’t reach. Players like Airtel, the Birlas, Reliance, and PayTM (a wallet company) are not in the game only to serve inaccessible rural customers through mobile banking. They will go for a large share of the low-cost deposits in urban areas in order to make their operations in rural areas viable. So the competitive threat is real, and payment banks and universal banks will be real competitors in serving the urban customer.

Second,
while Rajan is right to point out that there is nothing payment banks can do that universal banks can’t, this statement is misleading. The fact is the cost structures of universal banks will be higher than that of payment banks. The latter will opt for a minimum number of branches, and maximise customer-reach through technology, especially mobile technology. The cost structure is more skewed in the case of public sector banks, which have a huge kitty of bad loans and wide branch networks and excessive manpower. Payment banks are thus a direct threat to nationalised banks which are both short of capital and excessively burdened with costs. So Bhattacharya knows what is at stake.

“Payments Banks”

Beyond our Salary and Perks,
We have to know what is going around us,
How they will affect our Banking Industry and ultimately
affect our Service conditions and finally a threat to our job itself.

One such development is entrance of “Payments Banks”

12 things to know about payments banks:

1) Customers can deposit only up to Rs 1,00,000

2) Payments bank can issue ATM/debit cards but not credit cards

3) Payments and remittance services through various channels can be done

4) Customers will be able to buy insurance and mutual funds

5) Bank would not carry out lending activities.

IBA 's instruction to banks on Saturday Holiday!

Saturday Holiday system implemented!

Long wait is over!
Finally it is official!
2nd & 4th Saturday Holiday is
Effective from 01.09.2015.
Finance Ministry, Govt., of India today issued 
notification to this effect.

Sep 5th= full working day
Sep 12th= full holiday
Sep 19th =full working day
Sep 26th= full holiday

This will be applicable to all Banks coming under the control of RBI.
i.e Public Sector Banks,
Private commercial Banks, 
Regional rural Banks,
Urban and Central Co-op Banks etc.,

September 2nd strike!!

ALL INDIA BANK EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION - AIBEA
ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS ASSOCIATION - AIBOA
BANK EMPLOYEES FEDERATION OF INDIA - BEFI
INDIAN NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS CONGRESS - INBOC
NATIONAL ORGANISATION OF BANK WORKERS - NOBW
INDIAN NATIONAL BANK EMPLOYEES FEDERATION - INBEF
NATIONAL ORGANISATION OF BANK OFFICERS - NOBO

****************************************************
TO ALL UNITS AND MEMBERS: 18TH August, 2015

Joint call by AIBEA-AIBOA-BEFI-INBOC-NOBW-INBEF-NOBO

Observe All India Strike on 2nd September, 2015
Join struggle of the Indian working class 
Against anti-worker policies of the Central Government

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

All our unions and members would be aware of the call given by the Central Trade unions and various independent Trade Union Federations in our country for All India General Strike on 2nd September, 2015 …………………..

Some of the aspects of the policies and proposals of the Government as are as under:

1, Amending all labour laws to empower the employers with unfettered rights to “hire and fire” 
2. stripping the workers and trade unions of their rights 
3, Unlimited FDI in strategic sectors like Railways, Defence and Financial Sector. 
4. Sweeping changes in the existing Land Acquisition Act, 
Farmers’ right to land and agri-workers’ right to livelihood are being sought to be drastically curbed and curtailed.
5. EPF and ESI schemes are proposed to be made optional 
6. Attempts to dismantle the basic social security structures available to the organized sector. 
7, The Govt. has not taken any step to curb price rise of essential commodities 
8. Failure to generate adequate employment 
9. Weakening public distribution system and trying to scuttle it through Direct Benefit Transfer resulting further squeeze on the common people.
10. Various State governments have brought about drastic anti-workers changes in basic labour laws viz. Industrial Disputes Act, Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, Factories Act and Apprenticeship Act, Trade Unions Act etc. 
11. Proposals for new Small Factories (Regulations of Service conditions) Bill which prescribes that major 14 labour laws will not apply to factories employing upto 40 workers. 
12. Labour Code on Wages Bill and Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill which under the cover of amalgamation seek to make registration of unions almost impossible, 
13. Making retrenchment of workers and closures of factories easy. 
14. Amendment Bills have been put in public domain without consulting the trade unions thereby violating the provisions of ILO Convention 144 on Tripartite Consultation. 

15. Inaction in implementing the consensus recommendations of 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian Labour Conferences on formulation of minimum wages, same wage and benefits as regular workers for the contract workers and granting status of workers with attendant benefits to those employed in various central govt. schemes like anganwadi, mid-day-meal, ASHA, para-teachers etc. 
16. Curtailed budget allocations to all centrally sponsored schemes meant for poor peoples’ welfare. 
17. Refusal to ensure minimum wages of not less than Rs. 15,000 per month with indexation and universal  Denial of Pension for all including the unorganized sector workers
18. Reluctance on compulsory registration of Trade Unions within 45 days and ratification of ILO Conventions 87 and 98. 
19. Denial of Bonus for all and removing the ceiling under the Bonus Act
20. Refusal to improve the ceiling under Gratuity Act

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

Banking Industry:
Banking industry is no exception.

Campus Recruitment

Business Standard: dt. 16.05.2015

Around 80,000 vacancies are expected to open at top public sector banks in the country, including State Bank of India, as a large number of officers and staff will superannuate over the next two years.

As many as 78,800 employees will retire during the current fiscal and next fiscal, official sources said.

During the current financial year, 39,756 employees are retiring. This includes 19,065 officers and 14,669 clerks, sources said.

Besides, 6,022 sub-staff would also get superannuated this fiscal year.

About 39,000 employees would be retiring next fiscal. Of this, 18,506 officers and 14,458 clerks would retire from their service from various public sector banks.

There are 22 state-owned banks in India including SBI, IDBI Bank and Bharatiya Mahila Bank. Besides, there are five associate banks of SBI.

Considering vast vacancy in the middle-level position, the government is planning to provide some flexibility in the recruitment.

The Finance Ministry is going to provide flexibility with regard to recruitment at the middle level. Currently, they can hire on contractual basis.

Building a strong nation is in our hand!!

AIBOC-ISSUE OF SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYS OFF

Message from AIBOC:

Dear Comrades,

ISSUE OF SECOND AND FOURTH SATURDAYS OFF

A lot of queries are being received by us on implementation of second and fourth Saturdays off in
Banking Industry. We understand the anxiety as the issue which is very important, the most cherished and agreed demand of AIBOC, is being delayed in its implementation.

A few individuals from other organisations who were never serious about the demand or were even
creating hurdles in its achievement, are now shedding crocodiles tears. These paper tigers are
provoking common members by giving false information.

Let us advise you that in-principle approval of Govt. and RBI is already in place on the settlement
signed with IBA and more specifically on second and fourth Saturdays off. We are in continuous touch with DFS & IBA officials and have been following the issue. The delay is on account of some
clarifications being sought by authorities which are replied by officials down the line and IBA.

UFBU meeting on 16th at Hyderabad

UFBU meeting on 16th at Hyderabad 
to decide on entire UFBU participation in 2nd September strike
 & post 10th Bipartite Settlement developments 
& other issues.
=> Pradip Biswas GS, BEFI.
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Pensioners' Issues - AIBOA writes to UFBU Convener on RECORD NOTE DT 25 5 2015

FOR:108:2015                                                                                           
August 11, 2015

Com.M.V.Murali
Convenor-UFBU
HYDERABAD

Comrade,

REG:  RECORD NOTE DATED 25.05.2015

We are confident that the communication dated 04.08.2015 addressed by the General Secretary, All India Bank Retirees Federation must have been received by you pertaining to 100% DA for the retirees  prior to 01.11.2002.

2.         It was clearly communicated by our organisation vide our letter dated 06.02.2015, in response to AIBRF letter addressed to you that all 5 unions should be invited to intimate the various twists and turns in resolving the issues by IBA.

Fitment formula on promotion from Clerical to Officer cadre from 01.11.2012

HR & Industrial Relations

No. CIR/HR &IR/582/2015-16/1195

August 7, 2015

Designated Officers of Member Banks which are

parties to Bipartite Settlement

Dear Sir/Madam,

Fitment formula on promotion from Clerical to Officer cadre

Fitment Chart on promotion from Clerical cadre to Officer cadre

In JMG Scale I, on or after 01.11.2012

Stage	Pay in Clerical Cadre	Fitment at corresponding stage in Junior Management Grade Scale I
1	11765	23700
2	12420	23700
3	13075	23700
4	13730	23700
5	14545	23700
6	15360	23700
7	16175	23700
8	17155	23700
9	18135	23700
10	19115	24680
11	20095	25660

At least one soul to understand Bank Employees service condition in India!

THE HINDU

Open Page
All in a day’s work
Updated: August 11, 2015 02:59 IST | Hema A. Krishna

Cultural lessons on India are often best learnt by observing how the service industry addresses the needs of customers.

I left for the United States in 1989 to pursue my doctoral studies. Since 2010, I have been visiting India every summer to spend time with my parents, and have been amazed by the rapid transformation of this nation over time.

During a recent visit, I accompanied my father to his bank branch on numerous occasions. The booming Indian economy coupled with the increase in the proportion of middle-income senior citizens who conduct their transactions in person, in the morning and afternoon hours of the day, have seriously strained the customer service function of the industry. What is remarkable is that even amid the chaos and confusion, all the customers’ needs are met. The U.S. may be seen as a role model in customer service in general, but the number of transactions in that country’s service industry as a whole pales in comparison to what we witness in India.

During a typical 30-minute visit to the branch in Coimbatore, I observed that 20 to 25 customers deposited or withdrew cash. This function was handled by three staff members with speed and accuracy.

Spare one hour and save few thousands!

Spare one hour and save few thousands!

Most of Bank Employees have by this time received arrears of salary on the eve of wage revision.
You might have noticed that the entire arrears of salary relating to different Financial Year, was added in this year Income. Hence the total Income may be surpassed the slab Rs.5, 00,000 or
Rs.10, 00,000 depending upon the service and cadre you belong to.

There is a provision under Sec.89 (1) to appropriate the arrears  to the respective previous years.
(Some of the seniors might be knowing this provision). By preparing a statement and recalculating the Income Tax for all the four financial year, one may get some benefit by way of reduced Income Tax. It depends on the individuals Income.

This calculation may be prepared according to the format (10E) and submit to the Bank, and get the relief. Risk and responsibility lies with the employee for claiming correct relief amount. Bank has to accept the claim received from the employee and reduce the Income tax or refund the Tax already deducted to that extent, provided deducted amount is not transferred. If the funds are already transferred at least Bank will desist from recovering Income tax from August 2015 salary to March 2015.
Any excess Tax deducted may be claimed from I.T Dept. by filing return after March 205.

Pl. read the following taken from Bank’s circular:

“COMPUTATION OF TAX ON ARREARS FOR EARLIER/PREVIOUS YEARS (RELIEF UNDER SEC 89(1):

Re-open 10th B.P.S.

On 23.02.2015 M.O.U. signed!

On 25.05.2015 Full settlement signed!

Still UFBU or Individual Union has not opened their mouth and give explanation,
Why Loading on Basic Pay is restricted to 2%?

What made them to accept this proposal?

Agitation for Saturday leave by NOBW

National Organisation of Bank Workers
(affiliated to BMS/BJP, Constituent of UFBU)
informs:
NOBW decided to go on agitation.

In the National Executive Committee meeting of NOBW
held on 1 and 2 August, 2015 at Kanpur
decided to go on agitation for
1. Not implementation of 2nd and 4th
Saturday off.
2. Compassionate appointment to
August 2014 past cases.
3. Anomalies of 10th BP like
Stagnation increments,
Pro data for medical allowance for 2012 and
Spl Allowance not paid on Qualification Pay.

(Comment: why Special Pay and F.P.P omitted)