INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Bank employees have called a strike on Wednesday, December 26, a day after the December 25 holiday
With the failure of conciliation talks, about 10 lakh employees in private and government banks would go on strike on December 26 protesting
against the merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank, trade union All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) said last week
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of the top nine bank unions including AIBEA, has also decided to hold a strike on
December 26 against the proposed merger of three state-run banks
Here are 10 things to know:The government earlier this year announced plans to merge the three state-run banks to create the
third-largest bank as part of efforts to clean up the banking system, which has been overburdened by bad debts.The bank unions say they fear
the mergers will lead to job cuts and allow private sector banks to dominate the industry.Wednesday's strike marks a second one in past one
week.Workers at state-owned banks had on Friday called a nationwide strike in protest at proposed mergers that could cause job losses and
demanded immediate wage rises
account for the bulk of the record $150 billion of soured loans in the banking sector last year."During the conciliation meeting held in
Delhi today, the Additional Chief Labour Commissioner advised the three banks and IBA (Indian Banks' Association) to hold negotiations with
saying."No assurance came from either IBA or the government
Hence the conciliation talks failed and the December 26 strike stands," he added.The AIBEA is part of the nine unions in the banking sector
under the umbrella body of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).With Christmas on December 25, banks would effectively be closed for two days,
observe public holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays each month since September, 2015.(With agency inputs)
