Time to Strike again
In the light of the latest offer made by the IBA, a meeting of the UFBU was held today (17-6-09) in Bangalore. Comrade K.S. Shetty (President, AIBOC) presided over the meeting. While the meeting was discussing the issue, the IBA informed the UFBU that their offer of 17.5% increase stands reduced to 15% in view of the advice received from the Government of India. In view of this unacceptable and provocative situation, the UFBU decided to take organizational decisions to achieve our demands. Arising out of today’s meeting, a letter has been addressed to the Chairman, IBA in this regard. The letter is reproduced hereunder which our members will find explicit. All our units and members are advised to keep in readiness to implement any programme that will be decided upon by the UFBU, should the IBA and the Government of India choose to persist with their provocation and confrontation with the bank employees and officers. Further developments will be informed to the units shortly.Text of the letter addressed to the Chairman, IBA by the Convener, UFBU.Dear Sir,This has reference to the last round of discussions held on 9.6.09 between IBA & UFBU on our current demands of wage revision and pension option.You will appreciate that the discussions were held in the background of the strike call given by UFBU and arising out of conciliation proceedings held by the Chief Labour Commissioner, Govt. of India and his advice to both the parties to sit together to find amicable and acceptable solution to the issues involved.
During the discussions held on 9.6.09, you would have observed that there were earnest efforts from the side of UFBU to find mutually acceptable solutions. Similarly we also felt that IBA was willing to resolve the demands amicably and expeditiously.On the issue of sharing the additional cost of pension, it was agreed that out of the total cost of Rs. 6,000 crores, Banks would take a share of Rs. 4200 and employees / officers would bear a cost of Rs. 1800 crores. Thus one important issue was mutually sorted out. As regards IBA’s demand that Unions should agree for implementing the New Pension Scheme for the newly recruited employees/officers, IBA came forward not to insist on this condition and would agree for continuance of the provisions of Pension Settlement to be available for all existing employees as well as for the new recruits joining the Banks upto 31.3.2010. From UFBU we expressed the view that the cut-off date should be 31.10.2012 i.e. co-terminus with the expiry of the proposed wage revision settlement. The issue was to be further discussed and sorted out.Regarding wage revision, to our demand for a minimum of 20% increase in wage bill, IBA was willing to increase their offer from 15% to 17% subject to the approval of the Managing CommitteeIn view of this positive climate from both sides to work out some acceptable positions, we offered to defer our strike action and continue the discussion with a request to the IBA to expedite the settlement in view of the growing anxieties of the bank employees and officers.IBA agreed to discuss the matter and inform us of their view on our demands. On 10th June, as assured, IBA contacted us and we were informed as under:1. IBA is agreeable to offer an increase on 17.5% over the wage bill as of 31.3.20072. IBA confirms that pension cost sharing would be Rs. 4200 & Rs. 1800 crores respectively by the Banks and employees/Officers.3. Existing pension scheme would continue to be in operation upto 31.3.2010.4. Other issues of IBA including outsourcing would have to be discussed and resolved.We had informed you that UFBU would meet immediately and submit our reactions to the IBA.For this purpose, UFBU meeting was held today in Bangalore to discuss the revised offer of IBA and take a view. But we are now surprised and shocked to be informed by IBA that as per the advice of the Government, the IBA cannot offer anything more than 15% increase.While the bank employees and officers are anxiously awaiting early conclusion of the discussions and arriving at a final settlement on their demand for a fair wage revision and an option for PF optees to join the pension scheme and while UFBU was looking forward to clinch a broad understanding on these demands in the background of the positive discussions held on 9.6.09, the IBA’s present stand point comes as a bolt from the blue and is very surprising and shocking. It is equally unfair since it amounts to going back on the offer made by IBA.UFBU, from its meeting in session now, rejects this offer of IBA as the same is totally unacceptable to us. UFBU also feels that this approach of the IBA/Government would constrain the UFBU to go back to its status-quo-ante position of agitation and strike which was deferred due to the positive approach of the IBA in the discussions held on 9.6.09.The UFBU feels that before we take any decision to react organizationally, we should meet the IBA Chairman to sort out the issues amicably on the basis of the discussions held on 9.6.2009.In view of the above, we shall thank you to provide us an early time convenient to you to enable us to meet you in person and submit our view points.Since IBA’s going back on its offer has created an extraordinary situation of provocation, we desire an urgent meeting with you.We await to hear from you before proceeding further.Thanking you,Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
C.H. Venkatachalam
Convener.