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ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION
Circular
No.16/VII/2019
September
12, 2019
To:
ALL
UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear
Comrades
STRIKE
BY FOUR OFFICERS' ORGANISATIONS
ON
26TH AND 27TH SEPTEMBER 2019.
As decided
in the Secretariat meeting on 09th September, at Bengaluru was
presented through a communication to UFBU convenor.
2.
In the meeting held at New Delhi yesterday, there were
discussions on the items listed in the agenda.
Our organisation was represented by Com.Vinod
Bakshi, Vice President, Com.Sanjay Khan Secretary and the
undersigned.
3.
Though there was near consensus on the issue of launching
an agitation against the mega mergers announced by Govt of India
on 30th August, 2019, due to certain positions taken by the
constituents of UFBU,
Four Officers' Organisations, after mutual consultations, decided
to observe 2 days strike on 26th and 27th September 2019, focusing
on the issues:
Ø
Opposing Merger of Banks and
Ø
Demanding settlement of wages and other issues.
4.
The strike notice
addressed to Chairman IBA is sent herewith for the information and necessary
action. Make all out preparations to make the strike successful.
The detail programme will follow in due course.
Yours
Comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY.
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ALL
INDIA BANK OFFICERS’ CONFEDERATION (AIBOC)
ALL
INDIA BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (AIBOA)
INDIAN
NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS’ CONGRESS (INBOC)
NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF BANK OFFICERS (NOBO)
STRIKE
NOTICE/
2019/01
Camp: New Delhi
12th September 2019
FORM
– 1
NOTICE
OF STRIKE
NAME OF UNIONS:
ALL
INDIA BANK OFFICERS’ CONFEDERATION (AIBOC)
ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (AIBOA)
INDIAN NATIONAL BANK OFFICERS’ CONGRESS (INBOC)
NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION OF BANK OFFICERS (NOBO)
NAMES
OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
1
Shri. Soumya Datta, General Secretary, AIBOC
2
Shri. S. Nagarajan, General Secretary, AIBOA
3
Shri. K.K. Nair, General Secretary, INBOC
4
Shri. V V Tikekar, General
Secretary, NOBO
Dated the 12th
September 2019
To
The
Chairman
Indian
Banks’ Association
World
Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade
Mumbai
Sir,
In accordance with the provisions contained in sub-section (1) of Section 22 of the Industrial Dispute Act 1947, we hereby give you notice that 4 Officers’ Trade Union Organizations as stated above, propose to go on CONTINUOUS STRIKE from Midnight of 25th September to Midnight of 27thSeptember 2019 and INDEFNITE STRIKE from second week of November 2019, on the following issues:
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Opposing
|
1 |
Mergers
&Amalgamations in banking sector
|
|
Demanding:
|
2 |
Expeditious
Wage revision as per Charter of Demands, with an
unconditional and clear Mandate from all banks
|
| 3 |
Immediate
introduction of 5 day week in full, Reduction of
cash transaction hours and regulated working
hours.
|
| 4 |
Halting
of undue interference in the existing procedure of
Vigilance cases by outside agencies, under
provisions of amendedSec.17(A) of Prevention of
Corruption Act, 2018
|
| 5 |
Settlement
of issues pertaining to retirees-Updation of
Pension as per RBI formula/Revision of Family
Pension without any ceiling, quantum and
percentage; Medical Insurance at par with serving
employees
|
| 6 |
Adequate
recruitment
|
| 7 |
Scrapping
NPS and reintroduction of Defined Pension Payment
Scheme.
|
| 8 |
Reduction
of service charges for customers
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| 9 |
Stopping
of harassment of Officers under specious plea of
non-performance
|
The Statement of the Case is appended.
Yours
sincerely,
/
sd./
|
(Soumya
Datta) |
(Nagarajan S) |
(K
K Nair) |
(Viraj V Tikekar)
|
| General Secretary
|
General Secretary
|
General Secretary
|
General Secretary
|
| AIBOC
|
AIBOA |
INBOC
|
NOBO
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Encl:
1. Statement of the Case
Copy to:
1.
Chief
Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi
2.
CMDs/MDs/CEOs
of all Banks
3.
Chief
Executive, IBA, Mumbai
4.
The
Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Govt. of
India
5.
The
Joint Secretary, DFS for RRBs
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1.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Whereas Settlement/Joint Note was signed by the Indian
Banks’ Association with the employees’unions
and officers organisations in the Banks on
25-05-2015 covering revision of wages and
improvements in other service conditions for the
period from 1-11-2012 to 31-10-2017 and
Whereas the operation of the said Settlement/Joint Note was to
end by 31-10-2017 and
Whereas the need would arise to revise the emoluments and
service conditions with effect from 1-11-2017 and
Whereas the Unions and Associations submitted common Charter
of Demands to the Indian Banks Association in
February, 2017 and May, 2017 with a plea to the
IBA to take up the demands for discussions and
early resolution so that the revised pay scales,
allowances and service conditions can be
implemented from the due date i.e. 1-11-2017 and
Whereas, having regard to the delay in negotiations and
finalising the Settlements in the past, as early
as 12-1-2016, the Department of Financial
Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India
advised all the Banks as well as the Indian Banks
Association to initiate the process of wage
revision and conclude it prior to the effective
date i.e. 1-11-2017 and
Whereas having regard to avoid the delay in arriving at a
settlement, the Department of Financial Services,
Ministry of Finance, Government of India reminded
the Banks and IBA several times with their
reminder communications to complete the wage
revision process without delay and
Whereas the IBA commenced the discussions with the Unions on
2-5-2017 with the assurance that the discussions
would be completed by October, 2017 and
Whereasin the Conciliation Meetingheld on 28.05.2018
CLC(Central) had directed that existing system of
settling the wages for officers upto scale 7 to be
continued and
Whereas the Negotiating Committee of the IBA held negotiations
with the Unions on various dates, the latest being
on 29th August 2019 and
Whereas, in every round of negotiation, United Forum of Bank
Unionsunequivocally demanded that IBA should
ensure that all its member banks submit
unconditional mandate for facilitating meaningful
discussion and
Whereas five member banks viz., State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of
India and Indian Bank have given fractured
mandate to IBA for wage negotiation. Despite the
fact that the majority of the Banks had already
submitted ‘unconditional mandate’, IBA was
neither agreeing for any meaningful discussion as
per charter of demand and up to scale VII nor was
making effort to ensure that the left over banks
also submit the ‘unconditional mandate’ and to substantiate their offer, IBA stated that the
financial positions of our Banks are not conducive to offer better wage revision and that the Banks
profits have been eroded in the recent years
Whereas in the last meeting held on 29th August
2019, IBA has clearly indicated that the mandate
issue is linked to acceptance and introduction of
PLP/PLI.
Whereas, there
have been several attempts to create a smoke
screen to divert attention from the real issues
that continue to surround and plague the banks.
The core issues are highlighted as below:
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1
|
Mergers & Amalgamations in banking sector
|
|
2
|
Expeditious Wage revision as per Charter of
Demands, with an unconditional and clear
Mandate from all banks
|
|
3
|
Immediate introduction of 5 day week in full,
Reduction of cash transaction hours and
regulated working hours.
|
|
4
|
Halting
of undue interference in the existing
procedure of Vigilance cases by outside
agencies, under provisions of amendedSec.17(A)
of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018
|
|
5
|
Settlement of issues pertaining to
retirees-Updation of Pension as per RBI
formula/Revision of Family Pension without
any ceiling, quantum and percentage; Medical
Insurance at par with serving employees
|
|
6
|
Adequate recruitment
|
|
7
|
Scrapping NPS and reintroduction of Defined
Pension Payment Scheme.
|
|
8
|
Reduction of service charges for customers
|
|
9
|
Stopping
of harassment of Officers under specious
plea of non-performance
|
1.
Mergers
& Amalgamations in banking sector:
We strongly oppose and protest the Government’s move
of merger/consolidation of Public Sector Banks,
which was announced on 30th August
2019. In the name of consolidation, number of
Banks are being reduced. The advantages have been
misquoted. Just adding two balance sheets will not
make a resultant balance sheet stronger. It is
very evident, from across the experiences
globally, that bank mergers have never been a
success. On the otherhand, M&As create huge
organizations, too-big-to-manage and have a
detrimental effect on the economy as a whole. In
the garb of branch rationalization, branches will
be closed. We have seen this when Associate Banks
were merged with State Bank of India. In the name
of rationalization, right-sizing of human
resources, Voluntary Retirement is offered, which
is nothing but instigated termination of services
and loss of employment to millions who are
directly or indirectly connected with the Public
Sectors Banks. In addition, such situation creates
humungous pressure on the officers & staff
continuing in service as they have to manage the
work-load of voluntarily retired personnel. These
will have cascading effect on customer services
and deprive banking facilities to the common and
needypopulace.
M&Amonopolises banking environment in the country.
Every monstrous component of monopolistic
environment surface and affects customers – like
depriving banking next door, rise in charges and
fees, fewer banks, fewer products, less
competition and ultimately, customer service. The
mergers would result in driving the loyal
customers of public sector banks into the fold of
new generation private sector banks and NBFCs,
which would be inimical to the interest of the
common man as they will have to shell out more for
basic banking services.
The core problem faced by the Indian banking industry
is the enormous pile up of NPAs that have
accumulated on account of faulty lending practices
and the absence of any effective strategy to
recover the amounts from corporate houses and
large borrowers. The much publicized Insolvency
and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) process has notsucceeded
in recovering NPAs. On the other hand, it has
resulted in substantial haircuts, leading to
losses in banks. The absence of strong penal
action against the corporate willful defaulters
and fraudsters reflect the lack of political will
on the part of the Union government and
exploitation of inherent system weaknesses by
large borrowers than anything else.
In this backdrop, the announced merger/amalgamation of
public sector banks is nothing but a diversion
away from the core issue of NPA recovery and the
overall economic situation of the country. Mergers
cannot resolve or clean up the balance sheets;
rather the NPAs of the merged entities would
simply add it up. The improvement in certain
ratios, if any, would amount to mere financial
engineering and a mis-adventure, without resolving
the actual problems.The recent experience of
merger of the SBI Associates with the SBI has
already led to humongous losses and NPA
accumulation subsequent to merger. Yet, the
Finance Ministry seems to have learnt no lesson
from it. In a note to the parliamentary Estimates
Committee on Bank NPAs, former RBI Governor Dr.
Raghuram Rajan had termed bank mergers as a
“non-solution” to the NPA problem.
The organizational disruption arising out of mergers
would relegate every other activity to the
backstage. Banks involved have toinvest
theirprecious time to do fire-fighting for next
few years, in order to integrate personnel,
processes and proceduresadversely affecting other
banking activities. Mergers will result in
different classes of officers & staff within
same organization. The industrial relations within
the bank is bound to affect not only the officers
& employees, but ultimately the very
functioning of bank. The announcement of mergers
will definitely derail the ambitious $ 5 trillion
economy of the government as Public Sector Banks
are expected to drive the growth engine.
Hence, taking into consideration the overall welfare of
the people of our country and towards building a
healthy economic environment, we urge that
mergers, amalgamation, consolidation and any such
proposals be scrapped.
2.
Expeditious
Wage revision as per Charter of Demands, with an
unconditional and clear Mandate from all banks
Negotiations have not been carried out on the lines of
the Charter of Demands submitted by us, which is
based on minimum wages concept. IBA has not shown
inclination, in letter and spirit, to conduct
meaningful negotiations
based on the basic principles on which our
Charter of Demands were arrived and submitted –
i.eminimum wages concept, delinking from paying
capacity, equal work-equal wage, external
parity, spirit of Pillai Committee Report to
restore parity with civil service officers,
against unscientific categorization of branches,
to provide conducive and globally accepted norms
in working environment to women officers, uniform
perks and facilities in the
Industry,improvementand updation in pensionto
ensure a decent retired life to the officers,
running scale of wages, rolling back to bank-level
100% medical reimbursement facilities for officers
and the dependents etc. With utter dismay, it is
being observed that the negotiation is being
attempted by IBA completely bypassing what is
stipulated in the charter of demand. Rather,
new-fangled words/ other extraneous factors viz.
Performance Linked Pay based on gross operating
profits and Return on Assets are being tabled. We
demand wage revision only as per the charter of
demand submitted.
Most
of the member banks have already given
unconditional mandate to IBA. This has been the
practice since 1979 when the uniform regulations
on officer’s wages and service conditions were
introduced. From 1979, on 7 consecutive
occasions, i.e in 1984, 1989, 1995, 2000, 2005,
2010 and 2015, Joint Note Agreements have been
signed by IBA with Officers’ Associations
covering wage revision for all scales of officers
from Scale I to Scale VII. Officers’
regulations, which deals with wages and service
conditions of officers is a composite Regulation
covering all scales of officers and excluding
Scale IV to Scale VII Officers is unfair. The fact
that the majority of the member banks have
submitted the unconditional mandate is ignored by
IBA. IBA instead of persuading five member banks
viz State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank,
Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India and Indian
Bank, has been indifferent towards our logical
demand and taken stand to restrict the wage
revision up to Scale III. No perceptible
initiative is observed from IBA to impress upon
the remaining member banks for submitting the
unconditional mandate. The regressive approach of
IBA would cause disruption and divide among
employees, which will not augur well for the
Indian Banking Industry. Moreover, this approach
of the IBA will directly have disastrous impact in
the livelihood of lakh of employees. This
uncalled-for attitude of IBA would never benefit
any stakeholder in the banking industry. Hence, we
demand IBA to initiate immediate action resulting
in submission of unconditional mandate by all the
remaining member banks
In the light of the ambitious $5 trillion economy, the
Bank officers are expected to a major role in
driving the growth engine and have to shoulder
humongous workload to fulfil such expectations,
which they have been doing despite acute shortage
of manpower and other constraints. It is the bank
officers who are implementing all the schemes of
the government through their dedication,
diligence. Hence, we demand that bank officers
deserve equity and justice.
3Immediate
introduction of 5 day week in full, Reduction of
cash transaction hours and regulated working hours
The 4
officers organisations have submitted a
substantiated, logical reasoning for introduction
of 5 Day week Banking. Across the globe 5day week
is a norm. Even in our country, most of the
progressive, forward-looking corporates,
organizations, Government and quasi-Government
Organizations have been functioning 5 day a week,
which enables the officers and employees to have
balanced work life so that they are motivated and
can contribute significantly.
With the
focus on digital banking, Alternate channels,
Internet Banking, POS facilities, on-line payment
systems, the introduction and 5 day week and
reduced cash transaction hours will lead to the
augmentation of digital transactions. As such,
declaring remaining Saturdays as holidays will
have no impact.
Now,
banks are conducting cash transactions till one
hour prior to close of office hours. Thus, the
branches are left with only one hour to aggregate,
verify and complete the process of cash counting,
re-counting and lodging into the vault. This has a
telling effect on closure of the branches for the
day, elongating working hours of officers,
constraining them to overstay in the branches. Now
a very substantial numbers of bank branches are
single officer branches. Till the closure of cash,
officers will be constrained to handle cash
related transactions and is confined to the desk,
depriving of much required attention to other
areas like lending, business development and
compliance related work.
Now
that ATMs have been deployed in every part of the
country with high density, digital banking like
internet banking, mobile banking has occupied
pivotal place in transactional banking. Further,
the Government’s has been propagating digital
and electronic banking in a big way to reduce the
importance and volume of physical cash
transactions. In keeping with these, it would be
in fitness of things to reduce the cash
transaction hours to 4 hours. This will have the
following advantages:
a.
Dependency on cash in the society will be reduced
b.
Citizenry will adopt better and faster digital,
electronic mode of banking
c.
Will bring down the cost of operations of banks, paving
way for reduced service charges
d.
Will bring down the cost of printing currency and its
management by Reserve Bank of India
e.
Provides much needed time to operating functionaries to
complete the day’s work well on time.
f.
Enables
officers to engage themselves in compliances and
business development activities.
While
the office hours of banks are well defined,
officers have been subjected to unregulated
working hours. Each officer in the industry is
made to work unreasonably beyond office hours.
While it is an accepted international norm that
one cannot work efficiently, applying mental
faculty, beyond 8 hours, officers are forced to
work for 10-12 hours a day, exposing not only the
officers to health risks, but also multiplying the
consequential operational risk tothe banks. Longer
working hours have negative impact on the level of
performance, quality of decision, culture of the
organization and the industry, in addition to
enslaving him to work, discarding familial and
social obligations.
IBA/Government
has not shown any demonstrative inclination on the
issue.
4.
Halting of undue interference in the existing
procedure of Vigilance cases by outside agencies,
under provisions of amendedSec.17(A)
of Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018
PCA
Amendment to Sec 17 (A) provides that police
cannot initiate any enquiry against any person
unlessauthority competent to remove him from his
office, at the time when the offence was alleged
to have been committed, conveys its approval. This
aims to protect a person against any harassment,
mis-placed complaints, false-allegations etc.
Defeating
its own Amendment,instructions have been issued by
the Government that in all cases where a
disciplinary proceeding has been classified under
Major Penalty proceedings, approval be accorded
for initiating enquiry by investigating agency as
a matter of routine. This is not in order. This is
misplaced and sends a wrong signal to the officers
and staff who deal with and take financial
decisions.
Our
reason for objecting this is well substantiated.
Classification of any case of mis-conduct is
carried out based on the internal circular
instructions, and investigations from the point of
view of compliances of laid down norms, than on
any strong evidence as is expected in a criminal
investigation. The objective of internal enquiry
is entirely in divergence with the one done by
police/investigative agencies and is not
fool-proof. Further, classification of cases into
major and minor is based on the broad thinking and
from the perspective of the executives, who would
have acquainted with the case based only on the
report submitted by an officer of the bank, who
certainly lacks the skill and depth of an
investigative agency and is one sided-affair.
.
5.Settlement
of issues pertaining to retirees-Updation of
Pension as per RBI formula/Revision of Family
Pension without any ceiling, quantum and
percentage; Medical Insurance at par with serving
employees
Retirees
of the banking Industry are worst hit. Their basic
pay is frozen on the date of superannuation, and
is never revised in subsequent Bipartite
settlements. Worst kind of discrimination is
prevailing amongst different groups of retirees in
the matter of payment of Dearness Allowance.
Pension on Special Grade Pay is denied. Family
Pension to the spouse of the deceased employees is
too meagre to lead a minimum level of dignified
life. Although Bank Pension Regulations are framed
on the lines of RBI/ Central Government Pension
Scheme, no steps have been taken to remove the
discrimination and place it at par with
RBI/Central Government employees. A
section of SBI pensioners are denied pension @50%
of Basic Pay.
These issues were noted in the Joint note
dated 25/05/2015 signed by all parties in the
settlement but no forward moving steps have been
taken so far to address the issue.
Similarly, a meaningful medical insurance
scheme needs to be introduced to take care of the
ones who have contributed their major part of
their life to the Organisation, show due respect
and regards.
Steep increase in medical insurance premium:Regarding Medical
facilities for the retirees
ourobjections have been that:
·
The policies for
serving employees and Retirees have not commenced
from a common date as was suggested.
·
Retirees
have not given multiple options to choose from
i.e. coverage of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 2 Lakh, Rs 3 lakh
and Rs 4 lakh to broaden the coverage of the
policy. This flexibility needs to be extended for
the super top up policy also.
·
The
premium imposed for medical treatment in respect
of officer retirees is absolutely unfair,
illogical and unacceptable. It appears that this
pricing has been fixed in such a manner so as to
drive away the retirees from the purview of the
scheme. This issue requires immediate intervention
and suitable initiatives to be taken for logical
reduction of premium.
·
Our
suggestion for lesser premium rate for single
beneficiary like family pensioners, etc. has been
ignored.
·
IBA
should send communiqué to all Banks to
subsidise/bear the Insurance premium of Retirees
as is done for EDs/MDs of Banks as most retires
are likely to face extreme difficulty in arranging
funds for the renewal.
·
IBA
may advice member banks to give interest free
loans to retirees recoverable in easy instalments
for payment of premium.
Our
other suggestions were that a comprehensive
affordable health care policy covering the
interest of bank men (both Serving & retiree)
should be negotiated upon. It is also suggested
that instead of annual renewal, the policy should
co-terminate with the validity of wage settlement
period with further provision of renewal on
payment of pro rata premium post termination of
policy date and delay in finalisation of future
wage accord. IBA should also approach the Ministry
of Finance to exempt GST on Banks health care
policy being a part of staff welfare measure not
strictly falling within the definition of business
transaction. IBA has not addressed the issues
raised by us and unilaterally implemented the
revised scheme.
6.Adequate
recruitment
There
has been no meaningful recruitment in keeping with
the requirement of the Banks for the past three
decades, despite our demands, taking up the issue
with IBA and Government. While business has been
growing, the staff strength has been dwindling.
This decade is termed as decade of retirement.
Large number officers and staff have retired, and
are retiring. Any further delay in recruitment
obstructs capacity building and vacuum will be
created. Knowledge bank within the bank is likely
to dwindle, eventually leading to failure of
banks.
Further
inadequacy of human resources has led to humungous
pressure on the Officers & staff. Unbearable
work pressure has become cause of discomfort,
inconvenience and even suicides. It is a matter of
deep concern to observe the increasing trend of
suicides committed by the officers in banks. Over
100 such incidents are being reported every year,
especially youngsters. There
are many reasons for the unbearable pressure in
working environment. Unrealistic business targets,
inadequate staff, protracted working hours, denial
of social life, pressure of work on holidays,
atrocious behaviour of executives, inhuman
treatment, extra-ordinary pressure to sell third
party products, etc have made officers to reach a
point of dejection. Demands for a meaningful
work-life balance, regulated working hours, 5 day
week to rest, recuperate and rejuvenate which
could be best possible measures against suicide
attempts have not been implemented despite
persistent demand. It is demanded that for every
case of suicide the board to the banks should
conduct an independent enquiry and stringent
penalty to be inflicted to anyone who is found to
be responsible for such unfortunate occurrences.
Clerical
to Officers’ Ratio has been at abysmally low
level. Non-augmentation of human resources has
been mother of all problems, which has deep
ramification on business, recovery and customer
service, in addition to worrying incidence of
suicides of bank officers
7.
Scrapping
NPS and reintroduction of Defined
Pension Payment Scheme
Pension
under National Payment System (NPS) is not defined
pension and hence uncertain. In existing Pension
scheme in Banking Industry, Pension is
pre-determined. But in NPS, while contribution is
determined, the return is not defined. It depends
on the capacity of the fund to generate return
causing frustration amongst the post April 2010
recruitees. In NPS, an employee has to indicate
his risk appetite at the time of joining in the
fund viz. Low risk, Medium Risk and High Risk. But
as no switching is allowed, and the performance of
the fund may vary depending upon risk pattern
indicated at the time of joining, the market
behaviour will determine the Pension to be
received by an employee. Further, the contribution
is made @10 % of Basic Pay + DA of the concerned
employee leading to a huge accumulation of fund.
But the rate of return on any established fund
sometime shows negative return over a time horizon
leading to apprehension that at the time of
retirement the corpus fund may not be sufficient
to generate a pension benefit befitting the living
standard at that particular time. Pensionery
benefits are vital for the leading a dignified
life post-retirement and should not be left to the
vagaries of capital market. Removal of uncertainty
is pre condition for ensuring whole hearted
alignment with job and for this superannuation
benefit should be defined. There has been no
initiative on the part of IBA and Government to
review NPS.
8. Reduction of
service charges for customers
Post-computerisation,
with expanding customer base, increasing business
volume,it was expected that the banking services
would become more affordable. On the contrary, the
service charges imposed on the customers for
various services, including non-maintenance of
minimum balances, ATM transactions etc have
sky-rocketed.
Common man of the country is put to
inconvenience. Banks are now being looked as
profit-mongering with and injudicious in
recovering hundreds of crores as minimum balance
charges etc. Banks have been running reputation
risk as this is portrayed by media, resulting in
customer dissatisfaction. In a country where
majority of population continue to be
agriculturists, small businessmen and working
class, less-privileged, it is in the fitness of
things that banking should be made more affordable
by reducing service charges for customers. It is
an irony that banks do write off lakhs of crores
of large borrowers, but the common man is squeezed
by levying unreasonable service charges and fees.
9.Stopping of harassment of Officers under specious plea of
Non performance
It
is noticed that few banks have been issuing
communication to list out the non-performance and
harassing them. It is a well-known fact that
performance just not depends upon Officers.
Performance is sum and substances of opportunity,
economic conditions prevailing in that geography,
required support, infrastructure and necessary
human resources made available. Under these
circumstances, isolating the officers, issuing
letters not only demoralizes, but also put them in
to discomfort and agony. We urge that harassment
of officers should be stopped on the plea of
non-performance.
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==========================================================================================
Circular No.15/VII/2019
September 9, 2019
TO
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Comrades,
DECISION OF THE SECRETARIAT MEETING
The events are overtaking our industry. Government moves are
forcing us to take serious and effective trade union actions.
Bad loans are increasing in the new cycle of crisis of the
slowdown syndrome in our country. Current climate of wage
revision is not conducive for the present and future workforce
in our industry.
In
this background, our secretariat
met at Bengaluru today to discuss issues confronting the
industry and also the workforce. AIBOA Karnataka State Committee
provided the facilities to host the meeting.
Com M A Srinivasan, DGS was granted leave of absence due to an
unexpected situation in the family front.
Merger of Banks, current wage revision, attacks on Officers in
various banks in various forms, new proposal – PLP/PLI were the
issues listed and discussed threadbare by participant Office
Bearers and special invitees from the host unit.
It
was unanimously decided to adhere to the following
programmes/actions:
1)
1] MERGER OF BANKS:
The present case of the writ filed in the High Court which is
resting at the highest court of the country should be pursued
with required urgency. If need be, to be tested under Article 32
of the constitution.
2)
2]
PLP/PLI:
On wage revision it has been decided to reject the proposal in
toto before the proposed committee and submitting our view
points in writing.
3)
3]
Attacks on Officers:
Regulation 20 (1) and list of non-performers in the banks (Union
Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, OBC etc.,) to be opposed.
4)
4]
Govt of India’s instructions to
refer all departmental enquiries having vigilance angle to CBI
under Prevention of Corruption Act, a new threat to field level
functionaries to be withdrawn as there are settled cases by the
highest court.
PLAN OF ACTION: MERGERS
AIBOA should chalk out the following independent programmes to be undertaken by State Committees:
a) Postering campaign
b) Press conference by State Committees on a particular date throughout the country.
c) Communication by email to all MPs
d) Letter to President of India
e) Leaflet to be released to spread the message
f) Campaign through social media by AIBOA Central Office
In
the meanwhile, since the UFBU is
scheduled to meet at Delhi on the 11th Sep 2019
to decide the issue of PLP/PLI, it is decided to place on record
the grass root level feelings to resort to agitational
programmes as the situation has undergone seriously altering the
expectation.
A
meeting of the
Presidents and General Secretaries of our affiliates
in the
nine banks that are in the merger
process will be held in
Chennai on
the 19th Sep 2019.
Comrades, the programmes of action decided by us are to be taken
forward with all required seriousness and urgency. It is time to
turn the tide to save the central nerve system of the country.
Let us perform the national patriotic duty of retaining the
public sector character of banks intact.
With fighting greetings,
Yours Comradely
/S NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
Circular No.14/VII/2019
August 29, 2019
Camp:
MUMBAI
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE
COMMITTEES
Dear Comrades,
WAGE REVISION DISCUSSIONS WITH IBA.
One more round of discussions on wage revision was held at
Mumbai to-day at IBA office, Mumbai, after a lapse of more than
two months. All the nine constituents have participated in this
round of discussion. Our organisation was represented by the
undersigned.
2.
IBA team was led by Shri.Rajkiranrai, Chairman Negotiating Committee (UBI),
Shri.Prashant Kumar, DMD/CFO SBI,
Shri.Alok Kumar Choudhary
SBI, Shri. R.K.Sharma MD&CEO, IDBI,
Shri.V.G.Kannan CEO IBA,
Shri.B.Rajkumar Dy.CEO. IBA,
Shri.S.K.Kakkar Sr.Advisor
IBA, Shri.K.S.Chauhan Advisor IBA
besides officials of personnel department of IBA.
3.
The Chairman Negotiating Committee, while initiating the
discussions expressed happiness of participation of all unions
in the meeting. He recalled the earlier discussion in a quick
review: viz. Fixed Pay 10% + variable pay 6% ; mandate issue
still kept open up-to Scale V; decision on variable pay to be
arrived at as the
future recruitment
will be cost to company
model. Reacting to the quick
review the representatives
made it abundantly clear that the offer of 10% Fixed Pay is
unacceptable and far below the expectation of the entire
workforce; the concept of
variable pay can be discussed separately; mandate issue needs to
be resolved necessarily and there cannot be a precondition to
the discussion. Further the
common issues like 5 day week, Family Pension and Up-dation of
Pension are also to be taken forward for resolution besides
specific issues pertaining to officers and workmen are also to
be concluded.
4.
Responding to the submissions made by the
representatives, Chairman Negotiating committee stated that
Fixed Pay + variable Pay + mandate are interlinked as some of
the banks are yet to approach the respective boards. On 5 day
week, though it is flagged off, there is no forward and
favourable movement. Though there is no mandate from banks to
discuss the post retirement issues, still steps have been
initiated in the matter of family pension; however on updation
of Pension, the corpus required is more or less equal to the
total wage bill. It was suggested to have a small committee
constituted for the purpose of discussing the inputs related to
Variable Pay, as part of current wage revision.
The end result is issues are
interlinked.
5.
INSURANCE BACKED
HOSPITALISATION SCHEME: In
the earlier round held on 19th June 2019, the plan of
action to have a unquestionable way to finalise the issue was
shared with unions by IBA, based on the questionnaire and
responses received from the member Banks. In this round of
discussion Team IBA informed that 3 Public Sector Insurance
companies and 5 private sector Insurance Companies have
responded to the tender floated for the introduction of scheme
as per the present terms of settlement and Joint Note signed by
the organisations with IBA, to cover in service employees and
past retirees. The decision related to the quantum of premium is
to be decided upon, with required safety clause to benefit the
total work force, past and present. There was a power point
presentation by the service provider for easy access of the
details through technology intervention to benefit the policy
holders under medi-claim policy.
6.
UFBU MEETING:
In the meeting held our organisation was represented by
Com.Narendra Kotiawala, Dy.Gen.Secy, Com.V.Ramabhadran, Convenor
Wage Committee and Secretary, Com.V.Viswanathan State President
AIBOA (MSC) besides the undersigned. It was decided in the
meeting that the
representatives will meet at Delhi on 11/09/2019 to decide the
collective approach on
interlinked issues ie Fixed Pay + Variable Pay + Mandate.
To conclude,
it is so near but still so far........................................
Yours Comradely,
S.NAGARAJAN.
GENERAL SECRETARY.
Circular No.13/VII/2019
July 19, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear Comrades,
FIVE DECADES OF EXPERIENCES OF BANK NATIONALISATION.
COUNTRY BELONGS TO MASSES NOT TO BUSINESS HOUSES.
The historical move initiated by Mrs.Indira Gandhi of
Nationalisation of Private sector Banks on 19th July
1969 was hailed as one of the bold step, which had triggered the
political turmoil in our country. In her broadcast to the nation
on 19th July she said:
“As early as December 1954 Parliament took the decision to frame
our plans and policies within a socialist pattern of society.
Control over the commanding heights of the economy is necessary,
particularly in a poor country where it is extremely difficult
to mobilise adequate resources for development and to reduce
inequalities between different groups and regions”
Further she explained these objectives as follows:
a.
a.Removal
of control by a few; b.
Provision of credit for agriculture, small scale Industries
and export, c.
Giving a professional bent to management of banks, d.Encouragement
of new classes of entrepreneurs, e.
Provision of adequate training as well as terms of service to
bank Staff.
In
the post independent India, there were 97 Scheduled Banks, one
Imperial Bank of India, 51 exchange Banks and 81 other banks
with a deposit base of Rs.2000 crores The banking system was
limited both in numbers and service terms too. Today the entire
scenario has changed in terms of number of banks and also
services, rather it is increasing on a continuous basis. Today
149 scheduled banks with 1,40,133 bank branches. A total
business mix of Rs 200 lacs crores is handled by the banking
workforce. In terms of services, today we have one bank branch
for every 10000 as against 1,00,000 at the time independence.
Indian banking sector responded well and remained strong during
the tough times of Asian Economic Crisis in 1997 when many Asian
countries were in turmoil facing currency shortages and credit
crisis etc. The sub prime crisis of 2008 which critically
affected the western world, our Nation’s immunity level was high
and the global disturbances never affected our sector. While
developmental economies suffered, Indian economy did not. All
round appreciation from International print media was accorded
to Indian Banking system.
The period from 1946 to 1969 the banking was under private
sector control and 1969 to 1992 the banking sector was more or
less under public sector control. Neo liberal economic policies
adopted by the Government of India did not exclude our sector
too. Acquiring the capital from the private hands was forcefully
attempted to begin with State Bank of India, followed by
Oriental Bank of Commerce etc. When our nation suffered the
balance of payment crisis, we further succumbed to International
monetary agencies conditions. Merger of New Bank of India with
Punjab National Bank was the first one that happened where
equity holding of Government of India was 100%.
Government of India constituted committees to go into the
details of performance of the public sector Banks and the
recommendations of both the committees were not enlarging the
public sector philosophy for which the Nationalisation of Banks
was made. The process of pricing the loans even for Agriculture
Sector, dismantling of development financial Institution,
reduction of exposure limit to priority sector, and merger of
Banks etc are the specific recommendations. Our collective
resistance through oft repeated strike actions postponed the
implementation but could not halt the same.
It is cause of concern that such a
strong, efficient, strategic Banking System of our Nation now
face negative analysis and is being shown in poor light. It was
late Com.Tarakda, the then General Secretary AIBEA on 4th September 1997,
published the first volume of bank defaulters list at New Delhi,
urging upon the Owners of the Public Sector Banking to take
urgent steps to arrest the situation. The owners were unable to
visualise the situation at that point of time with required
urgency. Non Stop growth of NPAs and also increase in number of
frauds committed by corporates are seriously disturbing the
citizen of this Nation.
The questions arise in the context of finding justifications as
to how far banks can go on writing off debts in the name of
following business practices and also instructions of the
controller of the Banking System? Banks, as Trustees of Public
money, collect deposits from Public and operate their banking
business. In the name of prudential norms and regulations, how
can a Bank defend itself be decorating its Balance sheet at the
cost of Public Money and interest? Banking is nothing but
credibility that is created among the Public.
The position of the Banking system aimed at consolidation
exercise. It started with the Associate Banks ie 2008,2010 and
2017 with State Bank of India. The parent bank suffered on many
counts. But the wrath was passed on to the customers. One of the
quarterly profit figure published by the Bank was on account of
levying the charges for utilising the ATMs etc. The next dose of
Mergers have been rolled out on 17th September 2018,
even without consulting the temple of democracy.
The sudden announcement of demonetisation on 8th
November 2016, introduction of FRDA bill and also its abrupt
withdrawal by the Parliament, Enactment of IBC code where hardly
5 to 10% of recovery from wilful defaulters and long queue
before the NCLT by the corporatesy to declare themselves as
insolvent are of serious developments that we are witnessed.
We, banking workforce, took the responsibility of financial
inclusion and added nearly 22 crores accounts crossing the
deposits collected Rs 1,00,000 crores under government announced
scheme. Apart from this, all schemes introduced by the
Government to uplift the citizen to a reasonable living are
handled by us. Prominent amongst them is Mudra loans, will it be
of a repeat exercise of 1978 scheme loan melas and subsequently
loan waivers?
It is said that “
Trade unions are instruments for Social Change”.
The first trade union of Bankmen in pre independent India , as
envisaged in the foundation conference on 20th April
1946, fulfilled its objectives of Nationalisation of Banks,
making the class Banking to mass Banking. AIBOA hails the
journey of Bank Nationalisation and its Success in 50 years to
benefit the people at large. To conclude:
“Each of us can look back upon someone who made a great
difference in our lives, some one whose wisdom or simple acts of
caring made an impression upon us. In all likelihood it was
someone who sought no recognition for their deed other than joy
of knowing that, by their hand, another’s life had been made
better”
-Stephen M.Wolf-
We bow our heads in the memory of founding fathers of great
trade union movement of bankmen in pre independent India
for their commitment to convert the pains of struggle as a
result oriented one. Public Sector Institutions are nation
Building Instruments. It has to be preserved, protected and
promoted.
Yours comradely
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
Circular No.12/VII/2019
July 7 , 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Comrades,
ISSUES RELATED TO PENSIONERS
HISTORY TO BE REVISITED
Social media is used, misused and abused by one and all and
retired Bank employees are also equally active. One of the
prominent question that is often raised was that why pensioner’s
issues are not taken up with the IBA a representative body of
the Bankers, by the nine constituents in the wage talks.
Let us turn the pages of history to rekindle our memory.
In the background of RBI employees getting the “Pension in lieu of Provident Fund”,
the need was felt to raise the demand of Pension and clinch the
same with utmost care and urgency. When it was demanded to be
included as an issue in the second joint note exercise for
officers by the AIBOA Founder General Secretary Com.P.K.Menon,
we were left alone, and resultantly did not sign Joint Note in
1989, due to non inclusion of the demand for meaningful
resolution.
Pension in lieu of Provident Fund
Comparing the Pension scheme available in State Bank of India,
there were serious debates, whether “two”
retiral benefits are beneficial or “3”
available in SBI was best. But it was AIBOA that spearheaded
the campaign that “two”
is always beneficial than “3”
and finally established its supremacy in clinching the
introduction of pension on 29th October 1993 with
effect from 1st January, 1986. Claiming superiority, Banking
workforce, some of them misguided by the then “JAC”
[Joint Action / Attack Committee] exercised the option in favour
of DA upto 1148 points scheme in which DA was credited to PF
account of the non-optees... The first settlement signed on 29th
October 1993 was without any
extra contribution to pension fund ie; 10% of Basic Pay
One more option achieved in 2010 – with additional contribution
by PF optees:
The Government of India was adamant in considering the one more
option, the corpus required was stated to be Rs.26000 crores
by GOI. A committee was constituted by IBA with two independent
actuaries one from Hyderabad and another from Kolkata along with
9 UFBU representatives to arrive at the mutually accepted
pension corpus of Rs.6000
crores
To get back to same scheme of 1993 after 17 years ie; 2010,
out of the additional corpus of Rs.6000 crores, Rs.4200 crores
was credited to pension fund to extend Pension cover to serving
employees 2,65,000 and 65,000 retirees. Thus pension became a
reality. When an officer was inflicted with compulsory
retirement, he / she was not extended the option in the year
2010. It was AIBOA, which
took steps to secure the cover for
“compulsorily retired”
officer under pension scheme
too.
As on date, there are few important issues concerning the
retirees.
a.
a. Family
Pension
b.
b..100% DA
for the retirees, retired on or before 01.11.2002. [Supreme
court dismissed the case]
c.
c.Updation of
pension
d.
d.Insurance
backed hospitalisation scheme
In the history of wage negotiations, it was on 25.05.2015, the
record note was signed by the nine constituents covering many
issues including the above listed one. In addition to the
Record Note of 2015, retirees prior to 1986, they are being paid
an ex-gratia of meagre amount with the approval of Government of
India. The number of retirees being few and also aged 93 years,
the amount of exgratia needs to be enhanced.
One thing all of us should appreciate that when the serving employees issues are moving in
a snail pace, there is a
need to have restrain in expressions in the social media by the
retirees. Getting the
family pension settled gains importance and priority
besides the updation of pension on account of RBI getting the
nod from Government of India in the first week of March 2019, as
there exists minutes of 1994 on record between both the parties.
The existing pension corpus also includes employees’ recruited
upto 31.03.2010. While the expectations are genuine, we should
also develop patience to clinch the matter, without comprising
the set of rules meant and established over a period of time.
Efforts are sincerely made to realise the above demands.
Equally patience is the need of the hour.
Yours comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
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Circular
No.11/VII/2019
June
25, 2019
To:
All UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Comrades,
WAGE REVISION - STALEMATE.
Vide
our circular dated 19th instant issued from Mumbai, it was
informed that offer of covering up to Scale V officers in all
Public Sector Banks is hanging in balance due to
unacceptance by all organizations. Out of the three essential
ingredients of wages viz. Date of effect, Merger of D.A. for
construction of New Pay scales and quantum in % terms, the first
two are already agreed upon and the third one is yet to be arrived
at. So far, the proposal offered is 10% Fixed Pay and 6% variable
pay by IBA. Variable Pay as stated is linked to Profit earned and
return on Assets of the individual Banks. In a service Industry
like banking, variable pay is not going to benefit uniformly and
promotes discrimination. Hence, our organization is opposed to it.
In
the background of latest stand of I.B.A, the four officers'
organizations held a meeting at Bengaluru to take stock of the
situation for taking forward the issues for a meaningful
conclusion to benefit the entire banking workforce. Our
organization was represented by Com.Alok Khare, Vice Chairman,
Com.A.N.Suresh, President, the undersigned and Com. V.Ramabhadran,
Secretary and Convenor Wage revision committee. After a threadbare
exchange of information’s amongst the representatives, it was
decided to place before The Chaiman IBA for redressal of the much
vexed issue latest by 02/07/2019 so as to enable the organizations
to participate in the exercise of wage revision. The said
communication is appended herewith.
We shall keep the units informed of the developments.
Yours
comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL
SECRETARY
==========================================================================================
=========================================================================================
Circular
No.10/VII/2019
June
19, 2019
Camp: MUMBAI.
To:
ALL
UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear
Comrades,
WAGE NEGOTIATION TALKS WITH IBA.
After
lapse of nearly three months, IBA invited the UFBU for a
discussion today at IBA Office, Mumbai. IBA was represented by
Shri.Rajkiran Rai, Chairman Negotiation Committee IBA(UBI),
Shri. Alok Kumar Chaudhary(SBI), Shri.V.G.Kannan, CEO,
IBA, Shri.B.Rajkumar Deputy CEO IBA, Shri.S.K.Kakkar, Advisor
IR &HR IBA , besides staff of personnel
department of IBA.
Shri.
P.S.Jayakumar(BOB), Shri.Shyam Srinivasan(Federal Bank),Shri.M.K.Jain(OBC)
and Shri.R.A.Shankaranarayanan(Canara Bank) were
participating through Video Conference. Representatives of Seven
Organizations participated in the discussion. The undersigned
participated in the
discussion.
Chairman
Negotiating Committee outlined the purpose of the meeting so as to
know the stand of the
two Officers’
Organizations in the matter of participation in the
negotiation. In response , Convenor,
UFBU submitted a letter addressed to Chairman IBA and Chairman
Negotiation Committee
of IBA , reiterating that the negotiation should cover up to scale
VII Officers. It was also expressed that in the earlier round held
on 22.02.2019, IBA offered
to cover up to Scale V, though the mandate given earlier by the 5
Banks were up to Scale III only.
IBA
in response to the submission made, expressed that it was an offer
made and the acceptance was not forthcoming as it is reflected by
their absence. It was also made very clear that the five workmen
unions will participate in the negotiation for arriving at
agreement under ID Act. It was also expressed clearly that, in the
past when the officers’ organizations had not participated in
the discussion, still IBA did engage themselves to arrive at the
understanding with the officers’ organizations.(One in 1989
and another in 2010-one more option for Pension)
On
common issues concerning both the section of the workforce, it was
reiterated that the discussions should be continued to be held
with all the seven constituents of UFBU. IBA has indicated its
preparedness to discuss the common issues and also willing to
share the details related to record note dated 25.05.2015. In
addition, the discussion on Insurance backed Hospitalization
scheme was also held in the post lunch session. IBA will be taking
up the issue referred herein above in the ensuing meeting
scheduled to be held in the last week of this month and assured to
fix up the dates for further exchange of informations. The
discussion was more of explanatory in nature.
We
note to convey the developments in due course.
Yours
comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL
SECRETARY
=========================================================================================
Circular No.8/VII/2019
April 15, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear comrades,
FOOTPRINTS IN THE HISTORY
To begin with,
It is all the more relevant to look back how the workers of India
was placed in the pre-independent India.
“In those days, it was jungle law that prevailed. There was no
limit on hours of work. Men, women and children were headed in
these dens of capital to work and children were hearded in these
dens of capital to work from 12 to 16, 18 and even 23 hours per
day. There was no Sunday, holiday, no starting or closing
time. Children of 5 to 6 years of age worked full time like the
grown ups and when they died or were maimed in the machines,
there was no value for their life or limbs.”
On the foundation of AITUC – 31.10.1920
…
“ The time has come for you to assert your right as arbiters of
your country’s destiny. You can not stand aloof from the stream
of national life. You can not refuse to face the events that
are making history today for India. You are the mass of the
population. Every movement on the political chess board, every
step in the financial or economics arrangements of our country
affects you more than it affect any other class. You must
became conscious of your responsibilities to realise you
destiny. Workers of India, the earth is your common heritage.
It is not specifically reserved for professional politicians or
the Shimla bureaucrats or the mill owning plutocrats. Your
nation’s leaders ask for Swaraj, you may not let them leave you
out of the reckoning. Politics freedom to you is of no worth
without economic freedom. You can not therefore afford to
neglect the movement for national freedom. You are part and
parcel of that movement. You will neglect it only at the peril
of your liberty”
= D CHAMAN LALL
=
The central nerve system of any country is the financial system
and the same should be under the absolute control of Government
at the centre. The system handled by the private Bankers in pre
nationalisation period led to a collapse because of
mismanagement, manipulation, diversion of deposits to non
financial activities, inexperienced executives and influx of
refugees. It was on 15th April 1961, Government
notified amendments to Sec.45 of Banking Companies Act ensuring
job continuity and security for employees on merger of various
private Banks due to efforts taken by AKBEF. The glorious step
of securing the job by the first trade union of Bank men in
pre-independent India, is also relevant today.
The trade unions are instruments for social change. A Bank
worker of pre-independent India of “brick and mortar group”
and present generation of Bank worker of “Techno-savy”
group, the change has been brought in their life pattern and
also security of jobs is purely due to the indomitable urge and
sacrifice by the founders of his great organisation. Challenges
of different nature are confronting the workforce. Artificial
Intelligence has entered the Banking services to cut the cost on
human employed by the management.
The successes accrued to this organisation are the results of
the combined efforts of each individual working, for them, trade
union was their lifeline.
“My nest is burnt, Yet I am happy
For it has spread the light to some extent
And dispelled darkness
=H.L.Parvana=
The towering leader of working class, the lifeline of AIBEA upto
18th April 1975.
Our organisation born out of compulsions of post emergency
times, salutes the founders of the first trade union of Bankmen
established in pre-independent India on the banks of River
Hoogly on 20th April
1946, which is entering the 74th year of purposeful
existence.
Our revolutionary greetings to Bankmen under the glorious banner
of
AIBEA
Yours comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECREGARY
Circular No.7/VII/2019
April 14, 2019
TO
ALL UNITS/ STATE COMMITTEES
.
Comrades,
A NEW STAR HAS BORN TODAY
BANK OF BARODA OFFICERS’ UNION HAS COME INTO EXISTENCE.
In pursuance of the notice issued by
the Central office of our organisation dated 30th
March2019, a meeting of the
representatives of erstwhile Vijaya Bank Officers’ Union (VBOU)
and All India Dena Bank Officers Union [AIDBOU] was held at
Bengaluru (KARNATAKA) on 13th and 14thApril,
2019. Com.A.N.Suresh, President of our organisation conducted
the proceedings of the meeting.
2.
The meeting was attended by Com.K.Raghava, Secretary, AIBOA,
Com.H. Chandrasekara Shetty General Secretary AIBOA, (Karnataka
State Committee), Com.A.B.Shetty, founder General Secretary VBOU
and Com. K.Viswanath Naik Advisor VBOU, besides the undesigned.
3.
The proceedings commenced with a brief introductory cum welcome
address by Com.K.Srinivasa Rao, General Secretary VBOU.
Com.A.N.Suresh, President AIBOA initiated the discussion
detailing the purpose of the meeting and also the need to tackle
the new emerging situation in the new entity, which has come
into existence with effect from 01.04.2019. Following the
presentation, the undersigned supplemented the need to address
issues confronted by the officers in the new entity and also the
experience of the merger earlier initiated by the Government
pertaining to the five associate Banks merger with SBI with
effect from 1.04.2017. The AIBOA’s stead forward approach in
challenging the Alternative Mechanism of the Government in
taking forward agenda of merger of Banks in a fast forward
manner brushing aside the provisions of the Banking Regulations
Act 1970/1980 was appreciated by the participants.
4. Com.Srinivasa
Rao, General Secretary VBOU
addressed the participants about the consistent struggles to get
the benefits to the officers in Vijaya Bank whereas the other
organisation was a mute spectator to various developments.
Com.Neeraj Srivastava, President,
AIDBOU and other representatives of
All India Dena Bank officers Union too presented their
experience and their efforts to fight back the menace of the Bad
loans in Dena Bank in a planned manner.
Com.K.Viswanath Naik, founder General Secretary of VBWO
and presently DGS AIBRF, shared his experience in a brief way
and appealed to every one to undertake the task of building the
organisation with oneness.
Com.K.Raghava, Secretary AIBOA,
President of the AIBOA(KSC) and Convenor of the Private Sector
Bank Officers’ Forum addressed the participants the necessity to
come together as a strongest unit of officers in Bank of
Baroda.
After a detailed deliberation, the following decisions have been
arrived at unanimously;
a.
The amalgamated entity will function from Bengaluru, from the
erstwhile VBOU HQ.
b. The subscription varying from Rs
100 to Rs 200/ per month agreed to standardise the same @ Rs 180/-
per month per member and
remitted to Central Office of the new entity functioning from
Bengaluru.
c.
The subscription received from the members will be shared @ Rs 100, Rs
40 and Rs 40 to Central Office, Zonal and Regional
Units respectively.
d.
Out of the 9 units of AIDBOU, the registered units numbering
three will take steps to amalgamate the units as per the
provisions TU Act 1926. Remaining units will initiate the
required steps to dissolve / amalgamate by adopting a resolution
in the meeting convened for the said purpose.
e.
The accounts of the individual units will be closed after the
receipt of the current month subscriptions ,with net amount to
be remitted to the central office at Bengaluru.
f.
An amount equal to the amount remitted to Central Office may be
drawn as an advance by the Zonal Units for smooth functioning.
Proper submission of bills against the advance availed by the
units is prerequisite for effective functioning of the units
with Accountability.
g. After mutual consultations amongst
the participants, the representatives were entrusted the
responsibilities in the Zonal Units as Presidents and General
Secretaries. [ List is enclosed]
With these, the first day proceedings came to conclusions at
19.40 hrs and adjourned to next day.
SECOND DAY PROCEEDINGS:
On 128th birth anniversary of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
coupled with the New Year of three States the second day
proceedings commenced at
09.30 A.M under the Presidentship of Com.A.N.Suresh to give a
final shape for the new organisation in the name and style of
Bank of Baroda Officers’ Union. While taking the confirmation of
the proceedings of the previous day decisions, the next agenda
of formation of the amalgamated entity of erstwhile VBOU and
AIDBOU was taken up. With the consent of the all participants
the office bearers were entrusted the responsibilities of
conducting the affairs of the BOBOU. [List is enclosed]
The
new logo of the organisation was unveiled by Com.A.B.Shetty,
Founder General Secretary of VBOU and advised the banner of
BOBOU has to be preserved as an apple of eye and taken to
greater heights in BOB.
It was decided to take up the issue of
Check Off facility and also closing the disciplinary actions
cases of non financial in nature of members of both
organisations so as to enable the officers of BOBOU
to focus the attention in Bank building activities.
The second day session had the final and finer touch given by
Com.H.Chandrasekara Shetty, General Secretary AIBOA(KSC), of his best wishes for the
growth of the organisation, with the induction of youngsters as
office bearers, as their future is interlinked with BOBOU.
Com.Vinay Kumar, Joint
Secretary, AIBOA presented
his view points on NPS to be taken up in the negotiations by
AIBOA.
Well began is half done, thus the roaring entry of our
organisation in Bank of Baroda had commenced.
Yours comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY.
BANK OF BARODA OFFICERS’ UNION
LIST OF ALL INDIA OFFICE BEARERS
|
S.No. |
POSITION |
NAME – Com.
|
|
1 |
PRESIDENT |
Neeraj Srivasta [UP] |
|
2 |
VICE PRESIDENTS |
Rupesh Jha [UP] |
|
3 |
-do- |
Shivamanohar [AHD] |
|
4 |
-do- |
S.S.Dhaia [ROHTAK] |
|
5 |
-do- |
Gulshan [MAHA] |
|
6 |
GENERAL SECRETARY |
K.Srinivasa Rao [KAR] |
|
7 |
ORG.SECRETARY |
Vinay Kumar[HQ] |
|
8 |
SECRETARY |
Lokesh Mishra [RAJ] |
|
9 |
DY.GENERAL SECRETARIES |
Daulall Tak [DELHI |
|
10 |
-do- |
Kishore Adappa [Mumbai] |
|
11 |
-do- |
Rajagopal[AP] |
|
12 |
-do- |
Vipin Verma [Gujarat] |
|
13 |
JOINT GENERAL SECRETARIES |
Vijaya Sarathy [AP] |
|
14 |
-do- |
Kumar Naik [KAR] |
|
15 |
-do- |
Naresh Gandhi[AP] |
|
16 |
-do- |
Mandaiwalesh[KAR] |
|
17 |
-do- |
Navin Dixit [MP] |
|
18 |
-do- |
Saurubh Singh [UP] |
|
19 |
-do- |
Neeraj Gupta[Delhi] |
|
20 |
-do- |
Milind Palkar[Maha] |
|
21 |
-do- |
Kundan Kumar Shah [Bihar] |
|
22 |
-do- |
Ms.Priya Vyas [MP] |
|
23 |
-do- |
Mukesh Bassi [Punjab] |
|
24 |
-do- |
Vikas Kumar [Raj] |
|
25 |
-do- |
Amrut Pradhan [KOL] |
|
26 |
TREASURER |
Manish K.Chauhan [KAR] |
|
27 |
ASST.TREASURER |
Arup Jothi Bhara Thkar
[Kar] |
1-SVP and 3 Joint General Secretaries Post kept vacant
BANK OF BARODA OFFICERS’ UNION
ZONAL UNITS’ PRESIDENTS AND GENERAL SECRETARIES
|
S.No. |
ZONE |
PRESIDENT-Com. |
GENERAL SECRETARY-Com
|
|
1 |
Delhi |
Daulall Tak |
Pradeep Gupta |
|
2 |
UP |
Neeraj Srivastava |
Rakesh Trivedi |
|
3 |
Bihar |
Mukesh Kumar |
Kundan Kumar Shah |
|
4 |
MP |
S.P.Tripathi |
Paramanand Kag |
|
5 |
Gujarat I |
Hargobind Hasrajani |
Sanjay Bhatt |
|
6 |
Gujarat II |
Ms.Aahuti Garg |
Vipin Verma |
|
7 |
Maharashtra |
Kishore Adappa |
Milino Palkar |
|
8 |
Punjab |
Bimaljet Singh |
Jasbir Singh Devgon |
|
9 |
Rajasthan |
Namaram Tak |
Lokesh Mishra |
|
10 |
Kolkata & NER |
Subrat Kumar Dev |
Manik Chatterjee |
Circular No.6/VII/2019
March
28, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear
comrades,
MERGER
OF BANKS OUR CASE IN SUPREME COURT
Our
organisation, taking into consideration the various emerging
situations, with due consultation with our legal counsel filed an
interim application, as the earlier application filed in the
Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan, Jaipur Bench was listed for
hearing originally on April 4th, 2019 by the Supreme
Court of India. The
main contention in our interim application was the legality linked
to the whole process of merger exercise of Alternative Mechanism,
a new apparatus, has been used to substitute the Parliament
procedure ie; to lay the proposal of amalgamation or merger before
the both houses of the Parliament.
2.
In our Interim Application filed before the highest court,
non of the respondents have filed any written reply till date.
The case was listed on 26th March, 2019, as the
last item in the list. Our
Counsel mention the same before the Hon’ble Justice R.F.Nariman
and Justice Vineet Sarin citing the urgently of the matter and the
same was listed for hearing today morning.
3.
Today the case taken up for hearing and the legality
involved in the process was not answered.
Mr.Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India appeared for
the Government and Mr.Mukul Rohtgi, former Solicitor General of
India represented Bank of Baroda.
They argued that as the three Banks are under Public
Sector, the service conditions are identical in content and nature
and employees’ interest are not going to be adversely affected,
hence our prayer for Interim order has not been considered
favourably. However,
the hearing on our Writ Petition will continue in due course after
the reply is submitted by the Government / respondent Banks.
4.
Our organisation has taken right steps to thwart the merger
exercise in the best possible ways, as the merger of Banks is the
only issue remaining unimplemented agenda of Narasimham Committee
I and II. Reduction of
Branches, transfer of workforce and arresting the future
employment are the serious direct fall out of this unchecked
exercise of the Government.
Our
fight both legally as well as organisationally will nevertheless
continue against Bank mergers.
In
the meantime comrades are called upon to consolidate our
membership in the new entity for effective safeguarding of our
interest.
Yours
comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL
SECRETARY
=========================================================================================
Circular
No.5/VII/2019
March 4, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS /
STATE COMMITTEES
Comrades,
OFFICE
BEARERS MEETING AT HYDERABAD – 03.03.2019
DECISIONS ARRIVED AT
An urgent
office a bearer meeting of our organisation was convened at
Hotel Central Park,Hyderguda, Hyderabad on 03.03.2019 to take
the stock of emerging situations and roll out a plan of action
to address the issues confronting the officers’ community as a
whole.
2.
The proceedings were conducted by the Joint Presidium – Com.Alok
Khare, Vice Chairman and Com.A.N.Suresh, President and commenced at 10.35 am.
3.
The leave of absence was granted to Com.Narendra Kotiawala,
Dy.General Secretary, Com.Vinod Sharma, Com.D.N.Trivedi,
Com.Giri Srinivasa Rao and Com.Rajesh Tiwari Joint Secretaries
as they were held up with certain prior commitments.
4.
After the welcome address by Com.V.Anil Kumar, General
Secretary, AIBOA – AP & T State Committee the meeting commenced
its proceedings.
5.
IN MEMORIUM: The house
observed two minutes silence in the memory of the “40”
CRPF Jawans killed by the terrorist
outfit at Pulwama and other martyrs after Pulwama attack and
also Com.G.Gunasekaran,
Treasurer of our organisation.
6.
While placing developments
right from last CC held at Mamallapuram
on September 8-9, 2018, followed by the Secretariat Meeting held
at Mumbai on 13.10.2018 and State Presidents and General
Secretaries meet at Jaipur on 17.11.2018, the
programme unleashed by AIBOA right from “Postering Campaign”,
programme observed by the nine constituents culminating in a
day’s strike and escalating to judicial intervention with the
present status of the case before Supreme Court of India were
placed.
One
more focussed presentation was on the present stand taken by
other two officers’ organisations in the last two rounds of
discussions with IBA, on the issue of “fractured
mandate”. The information
related to the interaction with General Secretary AIBOC at
Kolkata [24.02.2019] and also with General Secretary NOBO at
Chennai [27.02.2019] were also informed. Com.V.Ramabhadran,
Secretary, AIBOA, who is also the Convenor of the Wage
Committee, presented details
pertaining to the current status of the wage revision, as per the advice of the Joint
Presidium, for the benefit of the office bearers / participants.
7.
On the both issues, a detailed deliberations took place by all
office bearers with the following observations.
a.
a. While on the Bank merger issue
taking to judicial recourse
is welcome and necessary
step simultaneous campaign
to educate Bankmen as well as customers and common people
with more details about ill
effects of the Bank mergers must continue.
b.
b. Wage
Revision
– On developments relating wage revision it was felt that safeguarding and strengthening the process of
bilateral negotiations while making these effective and
meaningful is the prime need of the hour.
AIBOA must therefore continue it’s efforts to evolve cohesive
approach to secure expeditious settlement.
In regard to Mandate issue
while IBA having conceded up
to Scale V coverage is a success of negotiating process efforts must continue to secure
coverage for all grades of officers as in the past.
8.
Office Space Acquired: The meeting held at Hyderabad was after
our oganisation acquired a premises in
our name on 9th January 2019
and the same was as per decision of the Secretariat. The office
space is being utilised by
AIBOA-AP & T State Committee and steps taken by Com.V.Anilkumar,
General Secretary, AIBOA-AP&T State Committee, was noteworthy.
9.
On organisational
front, the present status
in AIOBOA
and AIPSBOF
was also reported.
Our affiliate in Central Bank
initiating steps to arrive at the consensus is eluding final conclusion / fruitful
execution of plans. The
IDBI-LIC deal
and the Supreme Court decision negating our affiliates prayer
was also reported.
10.
Constitution amendments/formation of
committee: As proposed in
our meeting at Jaipur on 17.11.2018, to draw a balanced approach
between the State Committee and affiliated Units in its
representation in the office bearers team, more emphatically in
strengthening the grass root level contacts through District
Committee formation etc., a committee has been constituted for
amending bye laws of the organisation, to be placed before the
ensuing Central Committee meeting.
a.
Com.Anil Kumar [AP&T ]
Convenor
b.
Com.K.Sathyanathan [Kerala]
c.
Com.G.S.Oberoi [Haryana]
d.
Com.Sanjay Khan [Delhi]
e.
Com.D.S.Ganesan [Tamilnadu] and
Com.Arivind
Porwal, Vice President, AIBOA will also associate with the
committee.
11. Co-Option of
Treasurer: Com.R.Jawaher,
CC Member, AIBOA, Deputy General Secretary, AIBOA[TNSC] and
General Secretary, IBOF has been co-opted as Treasurer of our organisation in the vacancy caused
due to untimely demise of Com.G.Gunasekaran former Treasurer.
The decision will be ratified in the Central Committee.
Kudos
to Team – AP&T State Committee “Captained” by Com.V.Anil Kumar
who collectively executed the assignments in a short time
provided, flawlessly.
Yours
comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
“Small Deeds done are better than
Great deeds planned.”
Circular No.4/VII/2019
March 1, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Comrades
MERGER OF BANKS
STATUS OF THE INTERIM APPLICATION
We have informed earlier that on 10th January 2019,
Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan, bench at Jaipur, after hearing
our counsel, ordered to “serve
the notices to respondents
[ie;] Union of India, RBI, Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena
Bank] returnable by six
weeks “.
One of the respondents Bank of Baroda filed a case in Supreme
Court of India for staying the proceedings in Rajasthan and
Delhi and other High Courts. The counsel representing the Bank
of Baroda is Shri Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General of India along
with four others. The case came up on 06.02.2019
and the Bank requested time for filing an application which was
granted. It came up for hearing on 08.02.2019,
before Hon’ble Mrs. Justice R.Banumathi and Mr.Justice R.Subhas
Reddy. The case was slated to be heard on 28.03.2019,
an ex-parte stay obtained by Bank of Baroda.
Our organisation, on analysing the developments, engaged Shri P.S.Narasimha,
former Addl.Solicitor General, through Shri Pradeep Chaudhary
and Shri Ajay Chaudhary,
Advocate on record filed an Interim application to hear our case
expeditiously as the effective date of merger will be
01.04.2019.
The Interim application filed by our organisation has come up
for hearing in the Supreme Court of India today along with other
writs also. Upon hearing, Hon’ble Supreme Court has agreed to
transfer all writ petitions together to Supreme Court, with the
directions to all
petitioners to file the
copies of other original writ petitions before the Supreme Court
by 06.03.2019,
with the respondents
to file reply by 11.03.2019.
On mentioning before Hon’ble Chief Justice of India,
a date would be given soonest for final hearing.
One step forward from our end to seek justice from the Highest
Court of our Country.
We shall keep you informed of the developments in due course.
Yours comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
Circular No.2/VII/2019
January 11, 2019
To:
ALL UNITS / STATE COMMITTEES
Dear comrades,
AIBOA SEEKS JUDICIAL INTERVENTION ON
THREE BANKS MERGER
On 17th
September, 2018, an apparatus called “Alternative Mechanism”
by the present Government at the centre, made an announcement of
amalgamation of three banks [ie] Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and
Vijaya Bank and the three Banks’ were informed of the decision
of the Government of India, to take it forward.
The steps that are to be
initiated to achieve the desired goal of amalgamation are :
1.
The proposals must start from the
Boards of the Banks
2.
The decision regarding creating strong
and competitive Banks would be solely based on commercial
considerations
3.
The proposals received from Banks for
in principle approval to formulate scheme of amalgamation shall
be placed before the Alternative Mechanism [AM].
4.
After in-principle approval, the Banks
will take steps in accordance with law and SEBI’s requirements.
5.
The final scheme will be notified by
Central Government in consultation with Reserve Bank of India.
The amalgamation of the
Banks needs approval from both Houses of Parliament as per the
Banking Regulations Act 1970 /1980.
As amalgamation or merger
of Banks is not in the interest of people at large, such a step
should necessarily be opposed and resisted by Trade Unions.
We have closely observed
that the decision has been imposed from the owners and not
emanated from the individual Bank’s Boards, hence there is need
to interfere and also bring it to the notice of the members as
well as all concerned in the Banking Industry. An added element
is that the provisions of Banking Regulations Act 1970/1980 has
not been complied with in full measure.
Our organisation along
with Dena Bank Officers’ Union sought the judicial intervention
by filing a case in the High Court of Rajasthan, at Jaipur. The
case came up for hearing yesterday. The Hon’ble judge, while
issuing the directions to serve the Notice to the five
respondents, returnable in four weeks, made a passing remarks
that the provisions of law has not been complied with.
“ A
thousand miles journey starts with a small and tiny step”
which our organisation has
commenced.
We keep to inform the
details to all concerned in due course.
Yours comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY
Circular No.1/VII/2019
January 7, 2019
TO
ALL Units / State Committees
Dear Comrades,
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE SCHEME:
DILUTION OF GOVERNMENT’ S CAPITAL.
Government of India, as a part of New Economic Policy promotion,
right from 1992-93, had fallen a trap to Liberalisation,
Privatisation and Globalisation ie. LPG. There were
recommendations by the Standing Committee for Finance to reduce
the Government capital in Public Sector Banks from the present
level of 51% to 33%. However, the earlier Government , after
returning to power in 2004, the first open declaration made by
Dr.Man Mohan Singh was to retain the Government Capital upto
51%, thus the Public Sector character of Banks are still now
maintained.
2. The capital can be
acquired through three ways : [a]. Thro’ Profit
Generation [b]. Government providing Capital [c].
Acquiring the capital from the Markets. As bad loans are
increasing, provisioning towards that, eat away the profit thus
capital is not increased through internal Generation. Government
has taken a stand that there are not in a position to provide
from the Budget, a policy decision. The avenue available to
shore up the capital is to acquire from the market. Before
resorting to that exercise some of the banks have now started to
float the scheme of Employee Stock Purchase Scheme. Before
releasing the capital to the banks, majority unions were
compelled to sign a MOU with the Management and in turn
submitted to Government for receiving the capital support. There
was not even a mention about the move now exercised by the Bank.
3. By purchasing the shares of
the Bank by employees, Bank management talk of Sense of
commitment to the Bank. They talk about employees’ contribution
for the progress of the Bank. Further, they talk of sense of
feeling ownership. They talk about the sense of belonging to the
Bank. They also talk of selling the shares for making profit.
These expressions are nothing but enticing the workforce for
subscribing to the ESPS.
4. AIBOA, strongly rejects
the proposal of the various Bank managements of ESPS. It is
nothing but backdoor privatisation of the Public Sector Banks.
Instead of initiating steps to recover the Bad loans from the
wilful defaulters, these attempts are noting but diverting the
attention of the workforce.
Our Organisation directs the workforce not to subscribe for the
ESPS proposed by the Bank managements. Don’t lend your hands to
privatise the Public Sector Banks.
Yours Comradely,
/S.NAGARAJAN/
GENERAL SECRETARY.
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