Thursday, October 31, 2019

Two years have gone after
10th B.P.S. lapsed.

Reposted:






For Employees:
D.A increase from 
November 2019 to January 2020:

*Increase =3.60% (36 slabs)*
*Total D.A=71.70% (717 slabs)*

For Pensioners:
No change.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Latest judgement of Kerala High Court,
*on inclusion of Spl.Allow. in calculation of Pension/computation/Gratuity for those who retired after 31.10.2012.*

*It is Good news indeed.*

But, Judgement came after 4 years.
Bank management will definitely go to Supreme court.

Will final verdict be positive and delivered within our life time?

Vital portion of the Judgement is attached.



Sunday, October 20, 2019

WAGE REVISION-TALKS HELD WITH IBA ON 18-10-2019 

UFBU CIRCULAR :

 " One more round of Bipartite meeting was held yesterday between IBA and UFBU. 
IBA team was led by Shri. Rajkiran Rai. G (MD-CEO, Union Bank of India), Chairman of the Negotiating Committee and from UFBU representatives of our 9 unions were present. 

Continuing the discussions held in the last round of meeting on 17-9-2019, 

* The IBA stated that their offer of 12% hike in payslip cost would amount to Rs. Rs. 6,319 crores. 
They further stated that including the cost of superannuation benefits, the total cost would come upto Rs. 11,865 crore as on 31-3-2017 which is a substantial cost and hence unions should settle at this.

* Regarding 5 Day Week, IBA stated that looking to the views of some important stake holders, it may be difficult to agree for the same.

* IBA indicated that they are positive to consider improvement in the Family Pension Formula but observed that updation of pension would involve substantial cost and hence may not be possible at this stage. 

* IBA stated that our demand for merger of Special Allowance with Basic Pay would entail additional cost on superannuation benefits and hence would not be able to commit on that.

* IBA also wanted the suggestions of the UFBU on their proposal of Performance Linked Incentive Scheme and that they are open to discuss our suggestions. 

* Reacting to a court case filed in Madurai by an individual officer, IBA informed that the procedure to implement the Code on Wages is yet to be finalized by the Government and in any case it is not applicable to banking sector as wages in banking sector are already above minimum wages level. 
IBA also wanted clarification from the Unions as to whether any of our Unions are a part of the petition in the court case.

From side of the Unions, views were expressed mainly highlighting the following: 

* Wage revision settlement should be expedited and not delayed further 

* IBA's offer for 12% is not adequate to reach an understanding and hence it should be improved further. 

* As CODs submitted by Officers' organizations were devised to achieve the pay scales enjoyed by the Central Govt officers the same needs to be revisited. 

* Full mandate upto Scale VII should be given by all banks 

* Special Allowance should be merged with Basic Pay

* Suggestions/ views on PU scheme would be given in due course in the backdrop of clarification given by IBA that it would be over and above of the wage revision component. 

* For those covered by NPS, Bank's contribution should be 14% on Pay+ DA. 

* 5 Day Week should be introduced 

* Improvement in Family Pension should be considered favourably. 

* Data of pension to be shared with us to enable Unions to work the cost of revision/ updation of family pension/ pension to discuss the issue further. 
In the meantime, pension of all pensioners should be linked to common Index level of 6352 points. 

* In Madurai Court case, none of our unions are petitioners, and some unions are only respondents. 

* Efforts should be taken to reduce the premium on medical insurance scheme for retirees including waiver of GST and by grant of some subsidy from the Banks. 

We also suggested holding of the meeting of the Small Committee for Workmen and Officers on non-financial issues including disciplinary proceeding/ staff accountability policy for officers, etc. so that the concerned issues could be taken up in that meeting. IBA agreed to the same. 

We also took the opportunity to take up the issue of IBA's guidelines and consequent decisions being taken by different SLBCs on uniform business hours, cash transaction hours, increase in number of clearing Grid holidays etc. 
IBA informed that they would discuss amongst themselves and react to our viewpoints at the earliest and expressed the hope that a finality would be reached at the earliest on all the issues and demands. 

Comrades, the negotiations are entering a crucial phase. 
Maintain your calm and unity so that we bargain the best possible settlement of our demands."

With greetings, 

Convenor
UFBU

Friday, October 18, 2019

Dear Friends, 

IBA Health Insurance Policy  - Renewal. 

You are aware that many  of our Retirees had discontinued the renewal of IBA Insurance Policy. Our Apex organisations - AIBPARC/CBPRO have been requesting IBA & UIICL to accord one more option for to them to rejoin the scheme. 

Very Good News!!

those retirees, who had quit/discontinued the scheme will be allowed to rejoin the scheme now.

 Such retirees will be covered from 1st December - 1 month Lock in period. 

Regards

A N Krishna Murthy 
General Secretary
CBROA Bengaluru
In today's talks with IBA we raised the following issues for taking decision.

*Early settlement, 
*Increase in their offer,
*Merger of spl allowance into basic pay,  
*5 day week,  
*Improvement in family pension, 
*Updation of pension,
*NPS at 14%, 
*PLI modalities , 
*Reduction in premium on medical insurance  for retirees,  etc.  

It was decided to clinch these issues at the earliest. 
Detailed circular follows. 

S K Bandlish, 
Convener UFBU - 
Debasish, UFBU.

😯😟😮🙁☹️

Monday, October 14, 2019

AIBPARC,  Tamil  Nadu  state  committee,
visited the  office  of  United  India  Insurance  Company  at  Chennai.

The issue of higher premium for Retired employees Health Insurance Policy discussed and asked for changes as suggested by retired employees association.

The reply was
" The  General  Manager  and  the  Deputy  General  Manager  gave  a  patient  hearing  and sought  clarifications  in  respect  of Senior  Pensioners' are  getting lesser  Pension  and family  Pension  and  the  same  were  duly  clarified.  Further  they  pointed  out that  the  claim  ratio  is  high  and  the  total  amount  of claims  settled  are  higher  than the  total  Premium  received. We  responded  saying  that  this  difficulty  can  be  obviated  if  the  serving employees’ policy  and  the  Retirees'  policy  are  merged  as  one  policy.  Though  they  said  that  time is  not  available  in  the  current  year  to  go  in  for  modifications,  they  assured  to  bring  to the  notice  of  their  higher  authorities  our  views,  concerns  and  anxieties  in  the  matter."

Hence the hope for any improvements in this issue is vanished.

Decide yourselves to join the scheme or not .

Thursday, October 10, 2019

In the last BPS, in the last minute a new concept was introduced.
Yes, i.e. only 2% out of 15% increase will be loaded in Basic Pay.
This decision was not disclosed to employees till the date of signing the minutes.
Till the last meeting between UBFU and IBA no word is uttered about this proposal.
Only on releasing of signed minutes employees  came to know this decision.
That is a back stabe by a union.
Other unions said they were not aware of this,
They have to sign on the dotted lines as prescribed by the Big brother and IBA.
But, this excuse is unaccepted by the members.
Instead , a new spl.allowance was introduced which will not be taken for retirement benefits.
Thereby member's pension was reduced by Rs.3000 to 4000 every month.
Computation and Gratuity are reduced by huge amount.

This concept affects not only seniors but also New recruits after 2010.
As their NPS contribution by Bank as well as employees will be reduced by 7.5% (spl.allowance and D.A.thereon) every month.
If you calculate for 35 years of service , and future increase in wage revision, annual increments & D.A., the amount will be mind blowing.

If we assume one employee covered 7 settlements for 35 years of service.
Then Seniors retired between 2012-17 will be affected by one time only.
Those retiring  between 2017-22 will be affected 2 times only.
But, recruits after 2010 will be affected in all the 7 settlement.
Hence the loss will be higher and higher.
Runs to lakhs and lakhs of rupees.

Why I am writing this at this juncture?

There is a reason.

In the last BPS meeting the proposal was put forth by IBA again this time.
But, UFBU is tight lipped about this proposal.
Whether they are opposing or accepting this proposal?
I want to remind , In the charter of demand by UFBU , it demanded the existing special allowance to be merged with Basic Pay.

In this scenario, it is the duty of serving work force to give pressure to unions not to accept this 2% load proposal , and stick to charter of demand.

In every settlement a twist , a back stabe is done by Big Bro at the last minute, and other unions seem to be helpless and join the treachery.

This should not happen this time also.

Send your views on loading, by SMS, Whatsapp message , e-mails, and letters to your union leaders.

Commenting, scolding, cursing unions after everything goes out of hand is if no use.

Meeting with IBA on 18.10.2019 morning.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS
(AIBEA-AIBOC-NCBE-AIBOA-BEFI-INBEF-INBOC-NOBW-NOBO)

LETTER NO UFBU/2019/10 Date 03.10.2019

To

Shri V. G. Kannan,
Chief Executive,
Indian Banks’ Association,
World Trade Centre, Centre 1,6th Floor, Cuffe Parade,
MUMBAI-400 005.

Dear Sir,

Our attention has been drawn to a communication from IBA dated 1-10-2019 under your
signature to all member Banks advising them to disburse an adhoc amount equivalent to one
month’s salary to all employees and officers who were in service as on 1-11-2017 and who
continue to be in service today and to disburse 15 days’ salary for employees and officers who
joined between 1-11-2017 and 31-3-2019 pending finalization of the wage revision settlement.
You are aware of the advisory from the Finance Ministry, Government of India dated 12-1-2016 advising the Banks and Indian Banks’ Association to initiate the process of
negotiations/wage revision of the employees and to conclude it prior to the effective date i.e.
1-11-2017.
You are also aware that having regard to this Advisory, our Workmen Unions and Officers
Associations had also submitted the Charter of Demands well in advance with a request to IBA
to commence the negotiations in advance so that we may conclude it before the stipulated date.
You will also recall that when the initial round of discussion was called by the IBA on 2-5-2017, from the UFBU we had expressed our view that the discussion should be held on regular
basis and concluded at the earliest. IBA also agreed to the same. But, records will speak, that
talks were held after a lot of time gap every time and this is the main reason for the delay. This
delay is not attributable to the Unions.
Even though the negotiations commenced in May, 2017, only after a period of one year, that is
in the discussions held in May, 2018, IBA made its first offer of 2%. Thus one full year of
negotiation was without any offer from IBA. This delay is also solely on the shoulders of the
IBA and not the Unions.
Even in the communication under reference, IBA has presumed and stated that it would take
some more time to conclude the negotiations and sign the Settlement. This clearly shows that IBA wants to further delay the Settlement with a deliberate intention to frustrate the employees
and officers and to divert the wrath of the workforce against the unions.
If IBA expects further delay in the Settlement, for whatever may the reason, and hence wanted
to pay an adhoc amount, it should have been taken up with the Unions during negotiations.
Even in the last round of negotiations held on 17-9-2019, there was no inkling of what was
there in the mind of IBA and no such proposal was mooted by IBA.
Hence, the decision to pay adhoc amount, is not only unfair, unilateral and arbitrary but it is
also a deliberate attempt to undermine the role of unions and their right of collective
bargaining. This is a naked attempt to de-unionise the workforce. Such attempts are bound
to have an adverse impact on the otherwise healthy industrial relations in the banking industry.
It is unfortunate that, after negotiating with the Unions for more than two years so far, instead
of expediting the Settlement, IBA has chosen to decide to pay ad-hoc amount on its own for
the reasons best known to you.
We do not want to deal with the goodwill gesture on the part of IBA as employees and officers
of the Banks are capable of understanding the motive behind this decision. Suffice it to say
that this goodwill gesture was absent in payment of overtime wages/compensation to
employees and officers when they bore the brunt during the demonetisation period and during
the implementation of Jan Dhan Yojana scheme within a short period and such other occasions.
Even till now, many Bank managements are defaulters in this regard. We wish that such
goodwill gesture should have been shown in those times when employees and officers were
suffering under so much of stress and strain.
On behalf of all the negotiating unions, we wish to convey our strong resentment, displeasure
and protest against the unilateral decision of the IBA in this regard.
Please take note of our strong views in this regard.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Tuesday, October 1, 2019


Fwd: IBA LETTER REGARDING ADHOC PAYMENT
1 message
C H VENKATACHALAM <chv.aibea@gmail.com> Tue, 1 Oct 2019 at 16:47
Bcc: aiabaeu@gmail.com
TO CONVENER, UFBU
Dear Comrade, This has reference to you email and the IBA's Circular.
The unilateral circular issued by IBA on payment of Adhoc amount
pending settlement is to be strongly protested.
Even on 17th Sept. when the last round of talks were held, neither the Unions
nor the IBA discussed about any such proposal.
If IBA felt that there would be further delay on their part in finalising the
Settlement ,and that they would like to offer any adhoc amount,
it should have been taken up with the negotiating unions. This unilateral
decision of the IBA would not have been taken without the approval of the
Government and
hence the Government's hand in this regard is also there. All these are meant to
scuttle bilateralism and weaken collective bargaining achieved through bitter
struggles.
This is also to show the unions in poor light in the eyes of the employees, when
the IBA and the Government are responsible for the delay in concluding a
Settlement. Thus it is clear attempt of de-unionisation on
the part of the government and IBA. It is also to be noted that lack of common
approach on the part of the Unions is being taken advantage
of by the Govt. and IBA. UFBU should strongly protest the IBA's unilateral
action to undermine the role of the unions.
C H VENKATACHALAM
GENERAL SECRETARY AIBEA
98400 89920
--
C H VENKATACHALAM
GENERAL SECRETARY AIBEA

First time in the history of Public Sector Banks!!
Arrears comes before settlement!!
Advance against arrears!!