Public sector bank employees to go on strike from July 12

Banking operations could be hit for two days this week as a section of public sector bank employees have threatened to go on a nationwide strike beginning July 12 to protest against the proposed merger of SBI associates and privatisation of IDBI Bank.

"As the conciliation meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner failed, we would continue with our strike call," All India Bank Employees' Association General Secretary C H Venkatachalam told PTI.

All India Bank Officers' Association and State Sector Bank Employees' Association will also participate in the strike.

The strike would be observed by five State Bank of India (SBI) associate banks on July 12, followed by other public sector banks next day on July 13.

Many banks including Bank of Baroda, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur and State Bank of Mysore have already informed that if strike materialised it could lead to inconvenience to their customers.

In the event of the strike taking place, the normal banking operations may get affected on July 12 and July 13, State Bank of Mysore said in a statement.

Services like cheque clearances, cash deposit and withdrawal at bank branches and other facilities would be affected in case of the strike.

Venkatachalam said unions have explained the issues involved in strike notice in detail as to why the proposed closure of Associate Banks and their merger with SBI, proposed privatisation of IDBI Bank and so on are unwarranted.

He emphasised that effective measures to recover the alarmingly increasing bad loans is the real top priority for banks.

"We stated that instead of taking stringent measures against wilful and deliberate defaulters, the government is diverting the attention of the people by such steps like privatisation and consolidation as a means to improve efficiency and profitability of the banks," he said.