CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 006 DATED 26.02.2014

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 006 dated 26.02.2014 reproducing the AICBOF circular on “Curtain Raiser Function of Golden Jubilee Celebrations kickstarted at Mumbai on 22.02.2014. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2014: 006                                            Date: 26.02.2014

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                  PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2014/06 dated 24.02.2014 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                      

           

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

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CURTAIN RAISER FUNCTION OF GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

KICKSTARTED AT MUMBAI

The Curtain Raiser of the year-long Golden Jubilee Celebrations of AICBOF was held at K.C. College Auditorium, Mumbai on 22^nd February 2014, with all pomp and colour. The function was a grand success and will remain a memorable event for years to come. Shri Raj Kiran Rai, General Manager–HR, Shri R.C. Agarwal, Shri Dilip Saha, Shri R.R. Kumar, Shri N.K. Pareek and Shri D.S. Bhadauria along with your General Secretary and President were called to adorn the dais. The programme was set in motion with a heart stirring, melodious invocation song by Udaan Orchestra run by Physically disabled brethrens.

Sri.A.R. Saifullah, your General Secretary extended a warm welcome to the guests, dignitaries, executives, retired officers and the leaders of AIBOC who attended the function.  The presence of a large number of enthusiastic officers in the meeting underlined the need for unity and solidarity. Your General Secretary also traced the history of the officers’ movement in our bank. With the humble beginning made by AICBOF during 1964, it has made rapid strides and narrated the achievements and sacrifices made by the yesteryear leaders. He lauded the stellar role played by Shri R.C. Agarwal and other leaders in the growth of our Federation. While acknowledging the services of all leaders, your General Secretary prayed for their continued good health and prosperity and desired that their services should be available for the future generations of members and strengthening the Federation.

The founding brethrens on the dais were felicitated with a bouquet, shawl and also a silver coin to remember the occasion, as a token of love and affection of the entire members of the Federation, in recognition of their invaluable services to the officers’ movement over the years. Thereafter lighting of the traditional lamp was performed by Shri Raj Kiran Rai, General Manager-HR along with other guests on the dais.

Shri Raj Kiran Rai in his inaugural address requested the officers to excel themselves in their assignment, particularly in the improvement of retail segment, which is the need of the hour. Some of the matters raised by General Manager-HR were responded to by Shri R.C. Agarwal, the Chief Guest and Shri Dilip Saha, the Guest of honour. Shri Dilip Saha, Senior Vice President of AIBOC requested the officers’ community to be in readiness for continuous agitation for the success of the Wage Revision Settlement.

Shri R.R. Kumar, the first Officer Representative Director of our bank and former Chairman & Managing Director of Union Bank of India reached the venue despite the age factor, appealed to the officers to work hard for the growth of our bank. The standing ovation that was given after Shri R.R. Kumar completed his address is a demonstration of the good tradition that our Federation has been cultivating in recognizing the services of our leaders in building the mighty Federation over the years.

Shri N.K. Pareek, former President and Shri D.S. Bhadauria, former General Secretary appreciated the role played by the leaders of the Federation in celebrating the Golden Jubilee curtain Raiser function in a grand success.

Shri R.C. Agarwal, former General Secretary of the Federation for more than two decades and trade union giant in the banking industry in his key note address made the officers emotionally charged. Joining the Trade Union is a birthright and nobody can take away this constitutional right of the officers, he said. He also requested the leaders to ventilate their critical comments about the unilateral policies of the RBI/Government.

In his Presidential Address, Shri S.B. Rode highlighted the latest issues against the officers’ community, which are cropping up now and then in our bank, wherein bilateralism is being buried by the management. All the retired Office Bearers of the Federation/Association stationed at Mumbai were felicitated with our usual tradition and glorious culture. Shri Manoj Wadnerkar, Treasurer of our Federation extended vote of thanks.

Udaan Orchestra Troupe presented an entertainment programme “YE PAL” which was well appreciated by the audience.

The success of this Curtain Raiser function therefore belongs to the leadership of the Mumbai Unit and their activists, who spent their invaluable time in planning each and every activity in a manner to deliver the final pudding to the participants. Let us record our gratitude and appreciation on behalf of the Federation to each and every one of our members of Mumbai Unit for their magnificent performance in making the Curtain Raiser, a memorable event in the history of our Federation and on this occasion we convey our heartfelt thanks to them through Shri Anil Thakur-President, Shri Manoj Wadnerkar- General Secretary and Shri Srinivas Dindorkar-Treasurer of our Mumbai unit for their splendid performance.

With Warm and Affectionate Greetings,

Yours Sincerely,

Sd.-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)

GENERAL SECRETARY

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 005 DATED 19.02.2014

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 005 dated 19.02.2014 reproducing the circular issued by AICBOF/AIBOC on Hon’ble Finance Minister’s statement “ALL PROFITS CAN’T BE USED TO PAY HIGHER WAGES”. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2014: 005                                        Date: 19.02.2014

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                            PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2014/05 dated 18.02.2014 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                   

           

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

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“ALL PROFITS CAN’T BE USED TO PAY HIGHER WAGES”: AGREED

BUT ARE THESE MEANT TO PROFIT THE PRIVATES?

We reproduce hereunder the contents of our CONFEDERATION Circular for the information of all officers.

QUOTE   

While we share the anger and anguish of our membership over the statement of Hon’ble Finance Minister, on the occasion of 78th foundation day of Indian Overseas Bank on 10th February, 2014, we also thank him for once again (he is already on record in Parliament that profitability of the banking industry is increasing) accepting the fact that BANKS ARE EARNING PROFITS. We also agree with him that Banks’ profits are not for enhancing the wages, but, we also wish to remind the following:

1.    The Prime objectives of the Nationalization were to bring parity in the society which was branded as a major bold and historical decision of the century by late Smt. Indira Gandhi, the celebrity Prime Minister of the country.

2.    Nation had acknowledged that it was historical as it believed that prime focus after Nationalization would be poverty alleviation by upbringing the rural poor through various welfare schemes introduced and implemented through nationalized banks.

3.    The workforce of the Nationalized banks also responded fittingly by spreading its presence from 8000 to more than 80000 branches since Nationalization, in every nook and corner of the country, dedicated and devoted their lives in executing government’s initiatives and policies, unmindful of personal comforts, participated whole heartedly in the nation building by way of uplifting the downtrodden above poverty line.

4.    Through this unparallel dedication by the employees of PSBs the presence of branches today has crossed 100000+ from mere 8262 branches as on the date of Nationalization during 1969.

5.    Against their own policy, the government has attempted to encourage private sector to enter in to banking business. The resultant is that many private banks which commenced their business with fanfare became failure, a few transformed in to foreign banks and one was taken over by nationalized bank at the cost of nationalized bank’s business and profit. But still the nationalized banks were commanding 70% market share and making huge profits.

6.    Years back, world witnessed the failure of banking institutions all over and west was worst hit which brought the top banks to dust. Economic recession was the word substituted for the mismanagement. But Indian banking sector was shining as usual and Indian banks were making huge profits even in that adverse scenario. Is it not the testimony for the managerial ability of workforce of Indian Banking system?

7.    Keeping the eyes on the vote bank, debt relief schemes were introduced which has marred the recovery mechanism in the banking industry and it became a major contributor in NPA building in the rural branches.

            Still banking sector made profits.

8.    Government forced the banks to restructure the advances due to natural calamities; banks did so to revitalize the rural economy.

            Still banks generated profits.

9.    When the Govt. wanted the inclusive growth by introducing financial inclusion and ordered to ensure the presence even in remote, The Banks responded instantly to bring unbanked corners under banking services at huge expenses.

 Still banks earned profits.

10. When the govt. wanted to introduce DBT, we have readily agreed and accepted to carry out the un-remunerative business unminding the profit in the interest of countrymen.

            Still banks have shown profit in the business.

11. So many self employment training institutes are run by the banks for skill development in Indian youth at huge cost from out of the income earned.

 Still banks are making profits.

12. Recently Election education to the public is also entrusted to the banks in 543 districts. Banks will be undertaking this responsibility also with their resources and manpower.

             Still banks are running their business with profits.

13. In order to help the private corporate, CDR was forced on PSU Banks which is a drain on hard earned income of Banks. The income is further drained out in the form of Income tax and forced dividends from profits.

             Still sufficient Profits are available.

The causative factors for pulling down the profits (beyond the reach of employees) are:

            a. Policies of the government.

            b. Impact of economic slowdown which is also resultant of govt policies.

            c. Write off of bad debts.

            d. Concessions to be extended in permitting CDR to corporate.

Notwithstanding the fact that PSU BANKS are consistently earning huge and increasing profits, we, the most responsible trade unions, are not linking our wage demand to the profit and we are DEMANDING WAGES AS OUR RIGHT. It was well defined and designed policy decided between bank employees and IBA to revise the wages every five years to provide a decent living for the bank employees who are playing a pivotal role in nation building. More so, for the officers the wage increase shall be linked to risk and responsibilities they shoulder. It is only the IBA which is linking the profitability with wage revision. Though we are primarily differing from the IBA’s views of linking the profitability with wage revision, the following arguments naturally arise even if it is taken for a debate

1)    If the profitability is the basis for the wage increase how the govt. employees are given manifold increase from out of the deficit budget?

2)    Why the value of the current shareholding is not reckoned by the govt. which nationalized the banks at par value, which was built up to the current level by the hard work rendered by the bank employees?

3)    When the govt. talks about capital infusion to increase their hold, why the dividend received over a period of four decades is not taken into account?

4)    If the govt. wants to take big chip in the name of Income tax also besides the huge dividend, how people would believe the crocodile tears of building up capital from the internal resources?

5)    If the govt. really wishes to build the capital out of internal resources how the Govt. will justify their action of siphoning huge money from the banks in the name of interim dividend in September 2013 itself without even allowing the banks to retain such money and employ it to maximize the profit till March 2014?

6)    The PSB Banks would witness huge exodus due to superannuation within a period of five years from today to the tune of about 80% which needs about 10

7)    lac employees to be recruited over a period of five years to replace the retirees and to face the future growth. -Is it not the responsibility of the Government, the majority stake holder, to initiate steps to recruit quality youth and introduce policies to retain youth in the Industry, so as to ensure the existence of PSBs from the potential threat of becoming extinct? -Should the threat of poaching the existing staff of PSB banks by New generation Private Sector Banks and foreign banks, not be a concern of Managements/IBA and Govt.

DO WE NOT DESERVE A SMALL SHARE OF PROFITS TO MEET OUR LEGITIMATE DEMAND OF REASONABLE COMPENSATION

PSU Banks in India posted a profit of whooping 121917 crores during the year 2012-13 and if 15% of the profits is provided, a reasonable wage hike can be given to the bank staff for next five years. After setting apart this negligible percentage from out of the profit earned to the hard working bank employees, the balance can be diverted towards providing bad debts and other purposes prescribed by the Hon’ble Finance Minister.

It is indeed unfortunate and provocative that the finance minister suggests providing towards bad debts at the cost of employees legitimate salary revision, instead of initiating recovery measures by introducing stringent recovery measures. When the responsible reply does not come forth, should we not conclude that the Government policy is profiting the private by allowing the banks to decay through demoralizing the staff?

UNQUOTE

GREETINGS TO YOU ALL

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)                      

GENERAL SECRETARY

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 004 DATED 13.02.2014

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 004 reproducing the AICBOF circular on Two Days All India Banks’ Strike. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2014: 004                                        Date: 13.02.2014

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                            PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2014/04 dated 12.02.2014 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                   

           

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

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TWO DAYS’ ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE-A HISTORIC SUCCESS

We reproduce hereunder contents of circular issued by AIBOC for your information

                                                                                                                               

QUOTE

            “Congratulations Friends – we are elated to note the unprecedented success of the ‘Two Days’ All India Bank ‘Strike’ on 10^th and 11^th February 2014 for which call was given by the UFBU.  We congratulate all the members all over the country for their enthusiastic participation in various programmes conducted in this regard at different centres and making the programmes a grand success. We are receiving reports from the organizers on the programmes / rallies held throughout the country and their total success.  It is also observed that the participation of the members was not mere enthusiastic presence but their overwhelming emotion depicting the frustration and anger for the denial of reasonable and rightful wage increase.

We once again reiterate that the intention of the UFBU is neither to cause inconvenience to the customers nor loss to the country’s economy.  The strike could have been avoided, but for the recalcitrant attitude of the IBA and Government combine in not coming forward with an improved offer paving the way for a respectable and reasonable wage revision.  We do appreciate the stress on the balance sheet and the constraints on the IBA but at the same time, what is being demanded is not unreasonable and difficult to consider.  The responsibility and the duty of the employees and officers towards ensuring growth in business, productivity and generating increased gross income have been fully discharged.  The fact is fully evidenced by double the growth in net profits of Banks despite appropriation of more than 60% of the income generated towards writing off and provision for NPAs. More so, the UFBU is not demanding the entire profit to be distributed amongst employees as wages but with the due share in order to ensure reasonable standard of living to Bank employees equivalent to the comparables and also to cope up with the uncontrolled spiralling cost of inflation, which is making the life of common man miserable.

The two days’ strike is only a warming up exercise which should send strong signals to Government / IBA that the Bank employees will not be silent spectators if the Government is adamant in its attitude in implementing the reforms and the IBA / Government combine ignore the just reasonable aspirations of the Bank employees.

The UFBU will meet shortly to chalk out future course of action and further programmes.

Friends – March ahead – continue to display the solidarity and strength – Be ready to implement with vigour any action programmes decided by UFBU.  Let us march ahead with determination to achieve the goal.

Friends, we have taken cognizance of lot of messages/emails sent by our members and also the posts on the public domains.  It is not possible for us to respond to individual communications expressing your anger against the apathy of the IBA, Government and in particular against the provocative statement given by Hon’ble Finance Minister on 10/02/2014. While we appreciate your sentiments behind asking the leadership to give a call of indefinite strike, lot of technical and practical problems are there before such a call is given and implemented. The decision will be taken by the leadership at appropriate time. Meanwhile, we call upon you to strengthen the movement by participation in rallies/demonstrations call of which is given by the organizations. Make the battles successful before going for WAR”

                                                                                                                            UNQUOTE

We shall inform you the developments in due course.

LONG LIVE OUR UNITY

WITH FRATERNAL GREETINGS

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)                         

GENERAL SECRETARY            

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 003 DATED 30.01.2014

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 003 dated 30.01.2014 reproducing AICBOF circular on IBA Negotiations and Unnecessary interference by the bank’s management in our invaluable rights. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2014: 003                                            Date: 30.01.2014

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                  PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2014/03 dated 29.01.2014 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                      

           

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

.....................................................................................................

NEGOTIATION WITH IBA AGAIN FAILED - NOTICE FOR TWO DAYS STRIKE ON

10^TH & 11^TH FEB. 2014 SERVED ON IBA

We reproduce hereunder contents of Circular issued by ALL INDIA BANK OFFICERS’ CONFEDERATION (A I B O C) for your information.

                                                                                                                QUOTE:

“During the negotiation held on 27^th Jan 2014, it was expected that IBA will substantially improve their offer to the satisfaction which fulfils the aspirations of the officers and employees working in the banking industry.  But to our utter dismay, after a protracted discussion, IBA improved their offer by 0.50 % only i.e. a final offer of 10 % only on the pay slip components (excluding the superannuation and other costs).  The reason once again cited for their present low offer was the stress on balance sheets of various banks. UFBU rejected the offer made by the IBA instantly. 

Immediately, thereafter the UFBU in its meeting considered this offer as too low to have any view on that and unanimously decided to go on two days strike on 10^th and 11^th of February 2014 UFBU has already served the strike notice on IBA, We call upon all our affiliates, state units and members to make this two days strike a grand success. It is also pertinent to inform you that immediately after UFBU decided to observe two days strike, IBA has invited us for negotiations on 13^th Feb 2014 “

UNQUOTE

                                                                                         

Bank officers and employees felt IBA far from being keen and serious to expedite the wage settlement is creating roadblocks by adopting negative attitude. It was making entire workforce wait endlessly to get their legitimate dues. Friends, we need to step up our participation. We must mobilize our rank and file. The struggle should be a historic one and should send a clear message to IBA and the Government that they cannot take the work force for granted.

Further developments would be informed in due course.

            UNNECESSARY INTERFERENCE IN OUR INVALUABLE RIGHTS

We furnish hereunder the communication sent to the management for the information of all officers

                       

“We are surprised by the reaction of the Management to the Industry Level Strike on 18^th Dec, 2013. Never in the history of the Bank has there been such an approach. It is unheard of in any of the peer Banks in the Industry.

Chief Managers have been issued memos for participating in the strike. Names of Probationary Officers who participated in the strike are called for. These are unwarranted tactics aimed at intimidating the officers concerned. In Banks like Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Indian Overseas Bank, even up to the level of AGMs, officers participate in strike. In State Bank of India even DGMs participate. These Banks have shown tremendous growth in business and have been innovative in their functioning.

Why should our Bank indulge in this type of negativities when it has hundred other things to do for business growth! After all, it is these officers who have to deliver at the field level. What positive could come out of them if they are hounded like this! When they have only exercised their right of trade union action what could be the Management’s objection! The strike is not against the Bank’s Management. There is no provocation whatsoever.

Management had recently instructed that officers in Scale IV and above should not be a member of a Trade Union. Even the Ministry directives speak only in terms of ‘advice ‘and not as instructions in this matter. Some field level executives are harassing the officers to de-unionize themselves. No other Bank has taken this issue to the level that our Bank has taken. These actions are self defeating and best avoided.

Our Federation which is the majority officers’ organization is lending all support to the Bank in its endeavors to achieve its goals. It is time the Management gives up this negative stance and concentrates in its core activity of business”

We shall inform you the developments in due course.

LONG LIVE OUR UNITY

WITH FRATERNAL GREETINGS,

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)                           

GENERAL SECRETARY