The Bank Employees of both Nationalised Banks and of the private sector banks in India are on two days nationwide strike from today, their total strength is estimated at ten lakhs.
The bank employees main demands include the pension for bank employees, compassionate appointment,filling up the vacancies estimated at 1 1/2 lakhs nationwide,not to give banking work to the private sectors, give up the merging of various nationalised banks,consideration for appointment for the wards of the bank employees,settlement of salary on the basis of negotiated settlement etc.
Eventhough the bank employees went on a one day token strike on 25 th January, 2008, demanding the setlement of above demands, the government has not so far accepted their demands. Therefore, as already announced the bank employees had to continue their agitation.
Though the finance minister P.Chidambaram held negotiations with the leaders of the bank employees and again between the bank management and the employees representatives on 22 and 23 rd of this month there was no any sign of settlement. Hence the bank employees which includes the class III and other officer cadres, resorted to nationwide strike from today for two days.
If the Indian Government does not come forward for any settlement of their demands, the bank employees have proposed to resort to nationwide indefinite strike from March, 24 onwards.
We have already come across a significant loss on January 23 , which may again be repeated during these two days.It is well and good for the Indian government to come to the negotiating table with a will to solve the problems of the striking employees.Let us hope for the best.