Circular No. GS: 2009: 004 Date: 14.04.2009

TO ALL OFFICERS PLEASE CIRCULATE
Dear Friends,
We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2009/04 dated 13-04-2009 received from our Federation for your information.
With best regards
Yours sincerely
(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)
GENERAL SECRETARY
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We reproduce hereunder the circular received from AIBOC for your information:

“ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS -
NEGOTIATIONS AT INDUSTRY LEVEL STALEMATED
WORKING COMMITTEE TO MEET ON 22.04.09
Friends, we have been receiving anxious enquiries from different parts of the country in regard to the present position of the negotiations with IBA on the issue of 2nd Option on Pension, Salary Revision and all other related issues. Apart from writing a letter, we are in constant touch with the Convener of UFBU for getting the latest developments in regard to the IBA’s stand on the various issues that were raised in the last Bipartite meeting and their response to our demand for an early resolution of all the issues that are pending before the IBA.
Our friends are aware that our last meeting with the IBA brought certain new elements in the discussions and put it as a precondition for the continuation of discussions in regard to the 2nd Option on Pension. The issue of 2nd Option on Pension according to our perception had reached the final stage and it was only a small accommodation here and there on the part of the IBA in regard to the sharing of cost etc. However, the Negotiating Team from IBA threw a totally new subject that is the introduction of defined contributory pension as a precondition for the conclusion of the issue of 2nd Option on Pension. We were not expecting this turn of events. The meeting ended without any forward movement, since the unions stoutly opposed the attitude of the IBA and its unhelpful attitude in resolving one of the long pending demands of the bank employees and officers which was under negotiations for quite a long time.
Thereafter the representatives of UFBU met the officials of the Banking Department, IBA Chairman, the Hon’ble Minister for Labour, the Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Government of India, to resolve the impasse created by the Indian Banks’ Association. The representatives of the Banking Department and also the concerned Ministries heard our views and agreed to issue appropriate directions to the IBA for resumption of the negotiations. However, when we approached IBA to find out their response, we were told that the Chairman of the IBA is placing the subject before the Management Committee and seek their views in the matter. Accordingly, the Management Committee met on 23.03.2009 at Hyderabad. We understand from the IBA quarters that there is no change in the stand of the Management Committee of IBA and they have only reiterated their earlier position as revealed in the last Bipartite meeting.
The Convener is also reported to have been in constant touch with the IBA to know the final outcome of the Management Committee Meeting. We had expected a meeting to be convened by the IBA before the end of March 2009. However, there is no response yet from the IBA and the officers’ fraternity all over the country is getting restless. In the meanwhile, the parliamentary election process is on. The confusion still persists as regards the application of the Election Code of conduct. However, the Government has approved the revision of salary scales in respect of the Public Sector Units and the necessary notification is awaited. Hence, there should not be any embargo as regards our negotiations as well. We have already requested the Convener of UFBU to insist for the next round of discussions to reach finality on the issue of 2nd Option on Pension and all other issues which are under negotiation. We are also aware of the efforts of some of our rival unions to misquote the views and stand of the Confederation through their circulars on the various issues connected with the negotiations. We would only advise our members not to be misled by such mischievous propaganda of our detractors and to go only by the official version that is issued by the Office of the Confederation. There is a need to display unity and solidarity in full measure, so that the rivals are not able to encash upon their mischievous propaganda. The official stand of the Confederation until the matter is discussed and debated in the Working Committee is that the Confederation is responsible for the progress in the negotiations in the matter of 2nd Option on Pension and the pre-conditions that are now on the negotiating table cannot be accepted by us since it has already been rejected during the course of Bipartite meeting.
In the meanwhile, it has been decided to hold Working Committee meeting on 22.04.09 at Bangalore in order to discuss the various issues confronting the banking industry including the ongoing negotiations with IBA and the stand that the Confederation should take in case the IBA is bent upon pursuing the issue of defined contributory pension as a pre-condition for the introduction of 2nd Option on Pension. The occasion also will be utilized to work out appropriate strategies for tackling other issues such as the issue of salary revision which should be compatible with and comparable to the 6th Pay Commission and all the issues raised in our last Charter of Demands submitted to the Indian Banks Association for their consideration.
All our members are requested to await for further developments in the matter.”

With greetings,
Yours sincerely,
SD/-
(D.S. BHADAURIA)
GENERAL SECRETARY