AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 78 DATED 05.08.2011

AIBOC issued its circular No. 78 dated 05.08.2011 on the strike of 5th August 2011. We are reproducing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.78                                         05.08.2011

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

A GRAND SHOW OF SOLIDARITY – UFBU EMERGES A CLEAR WINNER - MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY - 5TH AUGUST 2011 STRIKE A RED LETTER DAY IN THE HISTORY OF UFBU

Kudos to over one million Employees and Officers working in the Banking Industry all over the country for their splendid display of unity and solidarity on the 5th of August 2011 to protest against the ill advised moves of the Government and their anti-people policies meant to hand over the financial sector in particular the Banking Industry to the Multinationals in the name of consolidation and merger, providing of capital through FDI etc., The strike was a befitting reply to the recent efforts of the Government to move certain amendments to the various legislations connected with the Banking Industry such as Banking Regulation Act, the State Bank of India Act, the Associate Banks Act etc., which would pave way for the participation of the Private Sector and multinationals in the equity of the Public Sector Banks and provide various avenues to enter the Board and take over the Managements of the Banks.

The United Forum of Bank Unions has been spearheading struggle against several attempts of the Government for the last 2 decades to privatize the Public Sector Banks and various measures to curtail the employment opportunities, to deny the services, which are available to the Common man through the Public Sector as well as the old generation Private Sector Banks.  It is in this background, the United Forum of Bank Unions decided to agitate against several issues that have piled up in the recent past.  Accordingly, a Strike Notice was served on the Government declaring our intention to observe one-day protest strike on 5th of August 2011.

The Government ignored the notice and did not bother to convene any meeting, neither issued instructions to the Indian Banks’ Association to hold discussions with the representatives of the United Forum of Bank Unions.  However, only at the fag end the CLC, New Delhi intervened and had no solution to offer in the first round of discussions on 1st of August 2011.  Thereafter he postponed the conciliation meeting to 3rd August 2011, with the participation of the representatives of the Government and also the Indian Banks’ Association which failed to resolve the issues slated for the strike. Once again, there was another attempt on the part of the Finance Secretary to persuade the leadership of the United Forum of Bank Unions to get the strike deferred.  However, there was no indication of solution to any of the issues raised by the United Forum of Bank Unions and subsequently there were appeals from the Chairman of IBA and the bureaucrats from the Government to defer the strike with an assurance to hold future talks on the issues raised by us. We are convinced about the negative approach of the Government and hence it was decided to proceed with the strike action.

The strike is a tremendous success all over the country. The members belonging to various constituents of UFBU gathered at different centers and held demonstrations against the anti-people policies of the Government. We have also received reports about the successful implementation of the Strike action. The details are as follows:-

Ø  The entire banking industry was closed and shutters of each and every office were down;

Ø  The members held demonstrations, processions and rallies in all the State Capitals, the District Head Quarters, bigger Cities and Towns all over the country under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions;

Ø  A wide coverage in the press as well as electronic media was given to the programme and all our senior leaders appeared before the media and explained at length the details of the issues involved and the objective of the strike;

Ø  The Public showed tremendous interest in the strike due to the fact that the issues are concerning them too with a view to ensure banking services to them in particular the people at the lower economic strata of society;

Ø  The literature covering the details of the issues were widely circulated amongst the members as well as the general public with a view to mobilize the public opinion in the matter;

Senior leaders of the AIBOC along with the members of other constituents of UFBU participated in the demonstrations and addressed the mammoth gathering as well as the media, which was present in almost all parts of the country.

Comrades, apart from the senior leaders’ participation all over the country, the meetings at major metros were addressed by the Principle Office-Bearers of the Confederation. At Bangalore, the undersigned addressed a gathering of more than 3000 members who had assembled in front of the State Bank of Mysore, K.G.Road and explained at length the issues connected with the strike and the need to remain vigilant and united to pursue our cause and also to defend the interest of the common man by protecting the ownership of the banking industry under the Government.  The last minute efforts of the IBA representatives as well as the Government officials to create a sort of confusion did not work and the strike was total all over the country.

The strike is the beginning of a long drawn struggle in defense of the Public Sector Banks and its ownership by the Government.  We may have to be prepared for a longer struggle since there is an attempt to get the various amendments proposed to the Banking Regulation Act as well as other legislations passed in the current session of the Parliament. A strong campaign to build public opinion as also amongst the Members of the Parliament to prevent the Government from proceeding with the amendments will have to be undertaken with a missionary zeal.

We also wish to place on record here that a huge number of representatives from the Pensioners’ Associations participated in the demonstrations and extended their moral support to the cause of the United Forum of Bank Unions. These veterans of our movement have assured to extend their fraternal support to all our future struggles.

 

The 5th August Strike is a part of our glorious history. We need to carry the battle further with a view to resolve all the issues raised in our agitation.  Hence, it is necessary to keep the rank and file across the country in fighting spirit to carry forward this great struggle in the days to come.  We convey our compliments to each and every member of the United Forum of Bank Unions for their splendid participation and exhibition of commitment and conviction towards the common cause and to save the Public Sector Banks from the clutches of the Multinationals as well as Private capitalists in the country.

The United Forum of Bank Unions is meeting on 10th August 2011 at Bangalore to chalk out our future course of action. The struggle needs to be escalated to make the Government to come forward to resolve the grievances raised by all of us. Hence, we request all our members across the country to be in readiness to jump into action at short notice.

With revolutionary greetings,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY

MARCH ON COMRADES, MARCH ON - ULTIMATE VICTORY SHALL BE OURS