Impacts of two days Banks Strike on 20th & 21st Feb, 2013

Impacts of two days Banks Strike on 20th & 21st Feb, 2013

While answering to a question regarding the strike on 20 and 21 Feb 2013 in the Parliament, Minister Namo Narain Meena said that 'It is not possible to quantify the loss of business, however, the inconvenience caused to the public was minimized with the functioning of the ATMs and internet banking'...

"United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBUs) gave a notice of strike for two days on 20th & 21st February, 2013 on the following issues and demands: 

(i) In support of the 10 point Charter of Demands of Central Trade Union; 

(ii) Control alarming price rise; 

(iii) Hands off trade union rights; 

(iv) Stop Banking Reforms; 

(v) Stop outsourcing; 

(vi) Early wage revision; and 

(vii) Settle pending issues like compassionate appointment scheme. 

Wage revision in Public Sector Banks is through a bipartite settlement between the representatives of bank employees and management. On the notice for strike, a conciliation meeting of UFBU with Indian Banks Association (IBA) was held at the office of Chief Labour Commissioner, New Delhi wherein UFBU was appealed not to resort to strike and to sort the issues amicably and avert the strike. However, UFBU decided to go ahead with two days strike on 20th & 21st February, 2013. 

It is not possible to quantify the loss of business, however, the inconvenience caused to the public was minimized with the functioning of the ATMs and internet banking".

Cong threatens action against strike participant

Cong threatens action against strike participant

Jamshedpur, Feb 18 (PTI) Congress in Jharkhand today threatened stringent action against any party worker taking part in the two-day strike called by trade unions, including Congress-affiliated INTUC.

Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president and Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Kumar Balmuchu told a press conference here that Congress is opposed to the strike and would take stringent action if any party worker participated in it.


Source: PTI
[http://www.ptinews.com/news/3395749_Cong-threatens-action-against-strike-participant]

Unions refuse to relent on strike call, talks with ministers collapse

Unions refuse to relent on strike call, talks with ministers collapse

 

Eleven Central trade unions tonight stuck to their call for a two-day nation-wide strike from Wednesday after talks with senior ministers convened at the instance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed.

 

Rejecting the prime minister’s appeal on Sunday to the unions to call of the stir, the trade unions said the panel of ministers failed to give them any concrete proposal and that not even one of their demands were accepted.

"The strike is on… They are only asking for time. They say they will study the demand and will give proper reply or take necessary action later on… We said it is not possible, there should be some concrete decision over demands of the workers," INTUC President G Sanjeeva Reddy told reporters.

 

INTUC is affiliated to the Congress.

 

AITUC General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta also endorsed Reddy’s views.

 

The two-hour long meeting was attended by representatives of all the 11 trade unions.

 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on Sunday appealed to the unions to call off their strike as it would cause loss to economy besides inconvenience to people and offered talks.

 

The Prime Minister had requested his senior Cabinet colleagues A K Antony, Sharad Pawar and P Chidambaram besides Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge to hold discussions with the union leaders.

 

Finance Minister P Chidambaram could not attend the meeting because of ongoing budget meetings.

 

The meeting took place in Antony’s office at the Defence Ministry.

 

Reddy also said that government failed to offer any alternative to their call for strike.

 

"If no demand is settled and no concrete assurance is given, it is very difficult for the trade unions to withdraw or postpone the strike," he said.

 

Asked what were the offers given to unions from the government, he said, "No offer, they wanted more time. We said we have already given two years time. We placed the demands three years before, so three years time we already gave, so there is no question of giving more time."

 

The government could not give any concrete assurance on any one single demand,he said, adding therefore we are sticking to our strike plan.

 

The 10 demands mainly related to checking of price rise, generation of employment, halting of disinvestment in public sector enterprises and implementation of labour laws.

 

Source: DDI News

PSU bank staff to go on two-day strike from Feb 20

PSU bank staff to go on two-day strike from Feb 20

Normal banking operations may be hit as employees unions of public sector banks have decided to join the two-day strike call given by central trade unions beginning February 20 to press for wage hike in the backdrop of rising inflation.

The nation-wide strike call has been given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) consisting of nine national level unions including AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF, NOBW and AIBOC in support of their demand.

Apprehending disruption in their normal banking operation, many banks have already informed their customers about the proposed strike.
 
"A section of the bank’s employees may participate in the proposed strike on the said date, if the strike materializes. In view of the above, it is likely that the normal functioning of the bank branches and offices may get affected," Corporation Bank said in a statement.

Delhi State Bank Employees Federation said, clearing function of RBI will be affected and other banking operations.
 
Meanwhile, sources said, banks would be taking steps to ensure that public do not face problem at least on the cash front during the strike period.
 
Banks would be feeding additional cash in ATMs to take care of cash needs of their customers.
 
Bank unions are also opposing banking sector reforms and any plan for merger of banks.
 
The bank strike is part of general strike call given by all 11 central trade unions including Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC).

Source: DDI News

Prime Minister's Appeal to Central Trade Unions

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Prime Minister's Office

17-February-2013 21:27 IST

Prime Minister's Appeal to Central Trade Unions

I appeal to the Central Trade Unions to withdraw their call for a countrywide General Strike on 20 and 21 February, 2013. Such a strike would lead to avoidable loss to our economy and inconvenience to the public through disruption of services.

While some of the issues raised by the Trade Unions are already being acted upon and others are at various stages of consideration, I have requested my senior Cabinet colleagues Shri A K Antony, Shri Sharad Pawar, Shri P Chidambaram and Shri Mallikarjun Kharge to together hold discussions with the leaders of the Trade Unions. I am confident that these discussions would result in a course of action that is acceptable both to the Trade Unions and the Government.

General strike on 28th February 2012 by major Central Trade Unions in India..!

General strike on 28th February 2012 by major Central Trade Unions in India..!

Detailed report of the last Trade Union Strike, which was held on 28.2.2012 was submitted in the Lok Sabha by the Minister Shri.Praful Patel...

The Major Central Trade Unions viz. Indian National Trade Union Congress, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Centre of Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, United Trade Union Centre and their affiliated unions observed countrywide general strike on 28th February 2012 to press the following 10 points charter of demands;-

(1) Concrete measures to contain price rise,
(2) Concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/iVicentive package offered to the entrepreneurs,
(3) Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws,
(4) Universal social security cover for the unorganized sector workers,
(5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs,
(6) No contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature of job,
(7) Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs. 10,000/-
(8) Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund, increase the quantum of gratuity,
(9) Assured Pension for ail,
(10) Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO conventions No. 87 and 98.

All the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) and Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) in the field had intervened on the strike notices received by them pertaining to Central Sphere.

Some of the remedial measures taken/initiated by the Government are as under:
(i) The Government has taken various fiscal as welt as administrative measures to contain price rise as a result of which inflation is moderating;

(ii) So far as enforcement of labour laws in Central sphere is concerned, there exists a well defined and effective machinery consisting of Labour Enforcement Officers (Central), Assistant Labour Commissioners (Central), Regional Labour Commissioners (Central) and Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners (Central) under Chief Labour Commissioner (Central). Similarly, Employees State Insurance Corporation and Employees Provident Fund Organisation have their own enforcement machinery. Similar arrangements are also available in the States for enforcement of labour laws in the State sphere;

(iii) Keeping in view the recommendations of National Commission for Enterprises in Unorganised Sector and Parliamentary Standing Committee, the Government has enacted Unorganised Workers` Social Security Act, 2008. The Government has also set up National Social Security Fund with a corpus of Rs.1000 crore. National Social Security Board has also been constituted which is advising the Government from time to time on new Social Security Schemes.

(iv) To ensure universal coverage of employment under Minimum Wages Act, a proposal for amendment in the Act has already been mooted. Regarding fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs.10, 000, the matter was discussed in the 44th Indian Labour Conference held on 14th and 15th February, 2012 but no consensus could emerge.

(v) So far as removal of wage ceilings under Provident Fund Act is concerned, the matter was debated in the 44th Indian Labour Conference held on 14th and 15th February, 2012 and a broad based consensus emerged for raising wage ceiling from present level of Rs. 6500 to Rs. 10000 or Rs. 15000.

Some major Central Trade Unions viz., INTUC, BMS, CITU, HMS, AITUC and Federation of Bank Unions had given a call for general strike to press their demands.

The year wise details of their demands are given below:
The year wise details of the demands of the Trade Unions submitted to the Government

2010 - Major Central Trade Unions i.e. INTUC, CITU,  AITUC and HMS,  had given nation- wide strike call to be observed on 07.09.2010 for following demands to be considered by the Government :-
(i) To check price rise of essential commodities.
(ii) Concrete proactive measures to be taken for linkage of employment protection.
(iii) Strict enforcement labour laws.
(iv) Schemes under the un-organised Social Security Act, 2008 and
(v) Disinvestment of shares of Central Public Sector Enterprises.

2011 - United Forum of Bank Unions comprising 8 unions / association had given strike notice for resorting to nation-wide strike on 07.07.2011  to press their following demands:-
(i) Not to privatize Public Sector Banks,
(ii) Not to reduce Government’s  equity in Public sector Banks,
(iii) Not to avail World Bank Loan to capitalize Public Sector banks,
(iv) Not to proceed with merger of Banks including the Associate Banks with SBI,
(v) Not to issue license to Industrial house to start their own Banks,
(vi) Not to violate provisions of Bipartite Settlement on outsourcing,

DISCUSSION FAILED - All Trade union leaders unanimously decided to go ahead with the Strike

DISCUSSION FAILED - All Trade union leaders unanimously decided to go ahead with the Strike

DISCUSSION FAILED

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS DECIDE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TWO DAYS STRIKE.

Cabinet Minister for Labour Shri Mallikarjun Kharge and Minister of States for Labour Shri Kodikkunnil Suresh held discussion with Central Trade Union leaders on 13.02.2013 on the Charter of Demands.


Discussion failed as Government is not ready to concede the demands.

All Trade union leaders unanimously decided to go ahead with the Strike.

M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE.

Source: www.aipeugdsnfpe.blogspot.in
[http://aipeugdsnfpe.blogspot.in/2013/02/on-strike.html]

ALL INDIA DEFENCE ACCOUNTS EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION Strike Notice and Charter of Demands

ALL INDIA DEFENCE ACCOUNTS EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION Strike (AIDAEA) Notice and Charter of Demands

Strike Notice and Charter of Demands by ALL INDIA DEFENCE ACCOUNTS EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION (HQ) KOLKATA(AIDAEA)

 

STRIKE NOTICE

 

To

The Controller General of Defence Accounts

Ulan batar Road, Palam

Delhi Cantt.-110010.

Sub: Serving of “Strike Notice”

 

Dear Sir,

Notice is hereby given that members of All India Defence Accounts Employees’ Association (HQ), Kolkata, an affiliated to the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, will go on two day strike on 20 & 21st February, 2013.  The Charter of Demands in pursuance of which the Confederation has given notice to the Cabinet Secretary for the one day strike action is appended hereunder.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

G. P. DUTTA

Secretary General

 

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

 

PART – I

 

1.      Take concrete measures to contain Price rise.

 

2.     Take concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession / incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs.

 

3.     Ensure strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

 

4.     Universal social security covers for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

 

5.     Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs.

 

6.     No Contractorisation of work permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment.

 

7.     Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/-.

 

8.     Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.

 

9.     Assured statutory Pension for all.

 

10.   Ensure Compulsory registration of trade unions within a  period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos.87 and 98.

 

PART – II

 

11.    Revise the wages of the Central Government employees including Gramin Dak Sewaks with effect from 1.1.2011 and every five years thereafter by setting up the 7th CPC.

 

12.   Merge DA with Pay for all purposes with effect from 1.1.2011 including for Gramin Dak Sweaks.

 

13.   Remove restriction imposed on compassionate appointments and the discrimination on such appointments between the Railway workers and other Central Government Employees.

 

14.   [a] Departmentalise all Gramin Dak Sweaks and grant them all benefits of regular employees; End Bonus discrimination and enhance bonus ceiling to 3500/-; Withdraw open market recruitment in Postman / MTS cadre; Revise cash handling norms; Grant full protection of TRCA; Grant Time Bound Promotion and Medical Reimbursement facility etc.

 

[b] Regularise the daily rated, contingent, casual workers and introduce a permanent scheme for periodical regularization. Pending regularization, provide them with pro-rata salary at 6th CPC rates.  

 

15.   (a) Revive the functioning of the JCM. Convene the meeting of the Departmental Councils in all Ministries/Departments. Settle the anomalies raised in the National Anomaly Committee as also in the Departmental Anomaly Committees. Hold National Council meetings as specified in the JCM constitution. 

 

(b) Remove the anomalies in the MACP Scheme.(c) Grant recognition to all Associations/Federations, which have complied with the formalities and conditions stipulated in the CCS(RSA) Rules.

 

16.   Fill up all vacant posts and creates posts n functional requirements.

 

17.   Stop downsizing outsourcing, contractorization, corporatization and privatization of Government functions.

 

18.   Stop Price rise; Strengthen the PDS.

 

19.   (a) Stop the proposal to introduce the productivity linked wage system; (b) discard the performance related pay structure; (c) introduce PLB in all Departments; (d) remove the ceiling on emoluments for bonus computation.

 

20.   Revise the OTA, Night duty allowance and clothing rates.

 

21.   Implement all arbitration awards.

 

22.   Make the right to strike a legal and fundamental right of the Government employees on par with the other section of the working class.

 

23.   Grant Five promotions to all employees as is provided for in the case of Group-A services.

 

24.   (a) Withdraw the PFRDA Bill. (b) Rescind the decision to allow FDI in pension sector;(c) Scrap the new contributory pension scheme (d) Extend the existing statutory defined pension scheme to all Central Govt. employees irrespective of their date of entry in Government service.

 

25.   Vacate all Trade Union victimisation, and more specifically in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department.

 

PART – III

 

Implement all arbitration awards including grant of higher pay scale notionally w.e.f. 01-01-1986 and effectively w.e.f. 01-01-2006.

 

Upgrade LDCs by re-designation them as Audit Assistants and following pay sales to different cadres –

Acctts./Audit Assistant - PB-1 with Grade Pay Rs.2400

Auditor/Steno Gr.II - PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4200

Sr. Auditor/Steno Gr.I - PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4600

SO/AAO - PB-2 with Grade Pay Rs.4800

                     PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.5400                                                                                 

                     (on completion of 4 years).

Accounts Officer - PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.6600

Sr. Accounts Officer - PB-3 with Grade Pay Rs.7600

 

Grant MACP on departmental hierarchy basis.

 

Grant one increment and Grade pay of Rs.4800 from the day of passing SAS examination.

 

Grant three increments on passing Departmental Confirmatory Examination.

 

Step up pay of Senior Promotes who exhausted ACP in the event of junior drawing more pay and getting ACP in compliance with apex court judgment.

 

Lady employees should be exempted from outstation transfer except volunteers.

 

Ensure posting at choice/home station just after completion of tenure fixed for the station.

 

Implement same scale for promotees and direct recruits.

 

Ensure promotion of clerks to the grade of Auditor after completion of five years’ service and Auditor to the grade of Sr. Auditor after completion of three years’ service respectively.

 

Introduce Zonal Transfer Policy up to AAO by formulating comprehensive transfer policy.

 

Grant higher Grade Pay for DEOs.

 

Grant promotion of all MTS to the grade of Clerk irrespective of academic qualification as well as age on one time measure.

 

Source: www.aidaeakolkata.blogspot.in

[http://aidaeakolkata.blogspot.in/2013/02/circular-strike-notice.html]