The proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30 has been deferred following a meeting between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
The decision was announced by the UFBU in a circular issued on September 27 following a meeting with the IBA held at 9:30 pm.
As per the circular, a high-level committee comprising representatives of the IBA and UFBU will be formed immediately to discuss the demand for declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays and explore alternatives acceptable to all stakeholders and customers.
The two sides also agreed to initiate discussions on the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Scale IV and above officers. The IBA will propose modifications to the government to address observations raised by unions and associations.
The residual issues mentioned in the minutes dated March 8, 2024, will also be taken up for discussion with a view to resolving them at the earliest.
In view of the developments, the UFBU has agreed to defer the proposed agitational programmes and strike actions.
The UFBU had announced the three-day nationwide strike on Friday.
Earlier, addressing a press conference in Shimla, UFBU Himachal Pradesh Convenor and President of the Bankers United Forum of Himachal Pradesh, Narendra Sharma, said the unions had been compelled to resort to industrial action over pending commitments under an agreement with the government.
Sharma said the implementation of a five-day banking week, with Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays, was among the unions’ key demands. He also raised concerns over the new Performance Linked Incentive scheme, which he said had been implemented unilaterally by the Department of Financial Services.
He said the unions had been seeking implementation of commitments made in the agreement for more than two-and-a-half years.
Sharma also said bank employees and officers did not intend to inconvenience customers and acknowledged the importance of uninterrupted banking services.
-ANI
