Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh affialiated National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) alleged that the UPA Government is repeatedly betraying the 10 lakh bank workers. In a statement issued in New Delhi the organisation said the Bank employees’ wage revision was due in November 2007 and in the last two-years a number of negotiation meetings took place. But the outcome of all the meetings has been zero. “On June 9, the IBA offered 17.5 per cent wage revision and the option of pension to bank employees. While the unions had been demanding 20 per cent plus wage revision and the option of pension. First time in the history of banking and wage negotiations the government reduced their offer from 17.5 per cent to 15 and then 13 per cent. After observing two-day strike on June 6 and August 7 this year, the government restored their offer of 17.5 per cent but put some more conditions like implementation of new pension scheme from April 1, 2010, which the unions opposed. In the last round of negotiation held on September 24 the IBA brought some more management issues like outsourcing and performance linked wages, which were also rejected by the unions. Unions also protested against the IBA’s demand for sharing of deficit in pension fund during the next wage revision and thereafter no meeting took place. Before Deepawali the government through electronic and print media indicated that they would settle the issues and the bank employees would get wage revision before Deepawali. Through these signals, the government took advantage in elections in three States. But no real efforts were made by the government to settle the issues. Sharing of deficit in pension fund during the next wage revision issue is pending with the finance ministry. The NOBW demands that government should keep its word and settle the issues immediately,” the statement said.
(FOC)
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