AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 54 DATED 09.06.12

AIBOC issued its circular No. 54 dated 09.06.12 on UFBU meeting held on 06.06.12 at Kolkata. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.54                                                 DATE: 09.06.2012

ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

UFBU MEETING HELD ON 06-06-2012 AT KOLKATA - CALL FOR 2 DAYS ALL INDIA STRIKE ON 25TH AND 26TH July, 2012

We reproduce hereunder the text of UFBU Circular No.11 dated 7th June, 2012 contents of which are self-explicit.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S. RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

TEXT

A meeting of the UFBU was held on 6-6-2012 in the premises of UALL Auditorium of All India Union Bank Officers Federation, Kolkata.              Com.Rajen Nagar, President, AIBEA presided over the meeting.            Com.P.K.Sarkar, President of AIBOC who hosted the meeting welcomed the participants.

The meeting conveyed its greetings to Com.D.S.Rishabadas General Secretary, AISBOF on his co-option as the General Secretary of AIBOC consequent to the retirement of Com.G.D.Nadaf from the services of the Bank, w.e.f 01.06.2012.

Developments and present challenges:  Narrating the developments since the last meeting held at Bangalore, the Convener reported about the successful observance of the All India Protest Day on 21-5-2012 in all the States and centres.  He also informed about the details of the meeting with the Secretary, Dept. of Financial Services, MoF while submitting the UFBU’s memorandum on the same day. 

Banking reforms:  He further informed that the Government had tabled the agenda of its revised Banking Laws (Amendment Bill) in the Lok Sabha at the fag end of the recently concluded Budget Session of the Parliament but the same could not be taken up for passage for want of time. He pointed out that, in the revised Bill, the Government had proposed to raise the ceiling on voting rights of share holders in the private banks to 26% from the present 10% while all other amendments proposed in the original Bill like exemption of bank mergers from the ambit of Competition Commission, increasing the ceiling on voting rights in public sector banks from 1% to 10%, supercession of Bank Boards etc. were retained in the revised Bill. They have also added a new clause on forward trading.

Attempts to close down rural branches:  He also drew the attention to the efforts of the Government to close down rural branches under the plea of non-viability but with the aim to hand over rural banking to private outsourced agencies/Business Correspondents in the name of converting them as Ultra Small Branches. He stated that all these attempts are to pursue its banking reforms agenda. 

Pending issues:  He further pointed out that all our important pending issues like revised compassionate appointment scheme, non-extension of pension option to certain sections of retirees, 5 day banking, regulated working hours, improvements in pension scheme like updation, revival of BSRBs, revised guidelines of staff loans, etc. remaining pending and deplored the casual attitude of IBA/Government in taking steps to find amicable solutions.

Attempts to go ahead with Khandelwal Committee recommendations: He stated that there is increasing effort to implement some of the recommendations of Khandelwal Committee Report through unabated unilateral guidelines being given by the Government on various bilateral service conditions, especially relating to promotion policies and transfer policy pertaining to officers.  He added that we must also keep in mind the expected hurdles in the way of our ensuing wage revision becoming due by end of this year. 

In view of all these affronts, he suggested that we must build up a strong agitation and give the call for strike action as decided in our last meeting held at Bangalore. 

All India Strike:  After detailed discussion and deliberations by all the constituent units on these placements of the Convener, it was unanimously decided that we should launch an agitational programme culminating in 2 Days All India Bank Strike on 25th and 26th July, 2012 and preceded by demonstrations, rallies, processions, mass meetings, badge wearing, submission of memorandum, Dharnas, etc.   It was also decided to seek the support of all the Central Trade Unions, various leaders of political parties, Members of Parliament, etc. to our demands and struggle.

The details of the programmes will be issued shortly through a separate circular.

Admission of NUBE:  Units are aware that a new organisation by name National Union of Bank Employees was formed recently and they had sought to join the UFBU, which was rejected by the UFBU. They had again made an appeal to join the UFBU.  Having regard to the views of some of the units of UFBU, it was decided to defer the issue.

Need for change of UFBU Convener:  Since the undersigned has retired from the Bank and hence ceased to represent AIBOC, the need has arisen to elect a new Convener for UFBU.  It was decided that the same would be taken up in the next meeting of the UFBU and till then the undersigned was requested to continue.

Next meeting:  It has been decided that the next meeting of the UFBU will be held in Chennai on 6th July, 2012.

Comrades, the period ahead is going to be full of challenges and we have multiple tasks before us.  All these attacks and challenges can be effectively resisted and repulsed only with our unity and struggles.  Hence, there is imperative need to make our UFBU as a more effective platform because a strong UFBU is the key to our successes in our demands and efforts. We appeal to all our units and members to strengthen UFBU at all levels.

With greetings,

Yours comradely,

Sd/-

(G.D. NADAF)

GENERAL SECRETARY