AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 17 DATED 22.03.2013 ON GOVERNMENT'S DIRECTION FOR WORKING ON HOLIDAYS AND WEEKDAYS

AIBOC issued its circular No. 17 dated 22.03.2013 on Government’s decision for working on 29th, 30th and 31st March, 2013. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.17                                                     DATE: 22.03.2013

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

GOVERNMENT’S DIRECTION FOR WORKING ON HOLIDAYS AND WEEKDAYS - FULL DAY WORKING ON 29TH 30TH AND 31ST MARCH, 2013 - AIBOC REQUESTS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THE INSTRUCTIONS

We have today sent a communication to the Government of India, Ministry of Finance on the issue of extending working on 29th 30th and 31st March 2013 in all the Branches of Banks. A copy of our communication along with the directives issued by the Ministry of Finance is enclosed.

All our affiliates/members are requested to await further developments in this regard.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

No. 1454/22/13                                                             Date: 22.03.2013

To,

The Finance Secretary,

Government of India,

Ministry of Finance,

Department of Financial Services,

NEW DELHI.

Dear Sir,

SUB:   EXTENDING WORKING HOURS AND OPENING OF BANK BRANCHES ON WEEK END AND HOLIDAYS IN MARCH 2013

Our attention has been drawn to a communication issued by the Ministry of Finance by the under secretary to the Government of India in regard to keeping the bank branches of all banks open on 29th, 30th and 31st of March, 2013 for the purpose of collection of taxes by the banks. The instructions have come as a rude shock to the officers of the banking industry as these happens to be the weekend coupled with a General Holiday i.e., Good Friday on 29th March, 2013. Good Friday is observed as a day of fasting and prayers by the Christians and to force them to work on this day of penance would also hurt the feelings of the minority. The next two day’s that is 30th and 31st happens to be Saturday and Sunday.  We have been receiving anxious enquiries about these instructions and requests from our members that they should be allowed to use their weekends as well as the General Holidays.

  

The latest directives of the Ministry of Finance to keep the Bank Branches open for full working on 29th, 30th & 31st of March 2013 would force the Bank Officers to work continuously for 13 days without a break. While, the banks are already burdened with annual closing work the current instructions would be an additional burden and would cause a great hardship to our members.

We therefore request you to kindly look into the matter and issue suitable instructions withdrawing the current directives to avoid hardship to our members across the country.

Please treat the matter as urgent.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 011 DATED 21.03.2013 ON ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 011 dated 21.03.2013 reproducing the circular issued by AICBOF on Annual Performance Reporting System. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2013: 011                                                        Date: 21.03.2013

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                               PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2013/10 dated 21.03.2013 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                      

           

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

……………………….........................................................................

“ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM - SHARING OF REPORT WITH OFFICIALS CONCERNED - TRANSPARENCY IN THE SYSTEM OF ANNUAL APPRAISALS

We reproduce hereunder copy of the communication received from our CONFEDERATION for the information of all officers

“One of the contentious issues that were being pursued by the Confederation both at the IBA level as well as at the bank level by our affiliates has been the need for a transparent system of Annual Appraisal System in respect of the Officers in the banking industry. The reporting system plays an important role when it comes to the question of career prospects of our members in particular at the time of the promotion exercise by the banks at various levels. The Government of India issued a detail notification in the year 2009 for the purpose of streamlining the system of confidential reporting. The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission which is known for its pragmatic and practical approach had an occasion to examine the existing Annual Performance Reporting System and come to the conclusion that the Appraisal System is meant for the guidance of the officials concerned in the various institutions and they should be conscious of their performance and its ranking by their superiors so that they are able to do well in their promotional process.

It is in this background that the Government has issued detailed guidelines to various departments for compliance, in regard to the entries in the ACRs in the case of civil services under the Government of India.  The details are as follows:-

i.              The existing nomenclature of the Annual Confidential Report will be modified as Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR).

ii.             The full APAR including the overall grade and assessment of integrity shall be communicated to the concerned officer after the Report is complete with the remarks of the Reviewing Officer and the Accepting Authority wherever such system is in vogue. Where Government servant has only one supervisory level above him as in the case of personal staff attached to officers, such communication shall be made after the reporting officer has completed the performance assessment.

iii.            The Section entrusted with the maintenance of APARs after its receipt shall disclose the same to the officer reported upon.

iv.           The concerned officer shall be given the opportunity to make any representation against the entries and the final grading given in the Report within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the entries in the APAR.

The representation shall be restricted to the specific factual observations contained in the report leading to assessment of the officer in terms of attributes, work output etc. While communicating the entries, it shall be made clear that in case no representation is received within the fifteen days, it shall be deemed that he/she has no representation to make. If the concerned APAR Section does not receive any information from the concerned officer on or before fifteen days from the date of disclosure, the APAR will be treated as final.

v.            The new system of communicating the entries in the APAR shall be made applicable prospectively only with effect from the reporting period 2008-09 which is to be initiated after 1st April 2009.

vi.           The competent authority for considering adverse remarks under the existing instructions may consider the representation, if necessary, in consultation with the reporting and/or reviewing officer and shall decide the matter objectively based on the material placed before him within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of the representation.

vii.          The competent authority after due consideration may reject the representation or may accept and modify the APAR accordingly. The decision of the competent authority and the final grading shall be communicated to the officer reported upon within fifteen days of receipt of the decision of the competent authority by the concerned APAR Section.

The banking industry is yet to implement the spirit of these guidelines in the reporting system. The reporting system as per the views of the 2nd Administrative Reforms should be more of consultative in nature and should be transparent to enable the officials concerned to improve their performance. It is in this background, we have to-day addressed a communication to the Chairman, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai requesting them to issue necessary instructions to all the Banks for the implementation of the above guidelines”

Further developments would be informed in due course.

With greetings,

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)

GENERAL SECRETARY

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 010 DATED 19.03.2013 ON 9TH TRIENNIAL GENERAL BODY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT HYDERABAD ON 21.04.2013

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 010 dated 19.3.2013 on 9^th Triennial General Body Conference to be held at Hyderabad on 21^st April 2013. We are placing the same here for our readers

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2013: 010                                        Date: 19.03.2013

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                                       

Dear Friends,

REG:  9^TH TRIENNIAL GENERAL BODY CONFERENCE OF OUR ASSOCIATION ON 21^ST APRIL 2013 AT HYDERABAD

The last General Body Conference of our Association was held at Hyderabad on 03^rd February 2008. Since then several developments have taken place, which you all are aware. Though the General Body Conference was due in the year 2011 itself, we could not conduct the same due to various reasons including financial constraints..

The Managing Committee Meeting of our Association was held recently at Hyderabad and it was decided to conduct the General Body Conference of our Association at Hyderabad on 03^rd March 2013. Accordingly, we have already issued General Body Conference Notice dated 16.01.2013 to all the members.

In the meanwhile, various members have requested to defer the General Body Conference due to SADAK BANDH call given by Telangana J.A.C. on 02^nd March 2013. Accordingly, the General Body Conference, which was to be held on 03^rd March 2013 was deferred to subsequent date.

Now it has been decided to conduct our 9^th Triennial General Body Conference on 21^st April 2013 at Hyderabad.

Friends, we are conducting General Body Conference at a crucial time as the banking industry is poised to witness rapid changes consequent upon introduction of Banking Laws Amendment Bill by the Government of India despite opposition from Trade Unions and others. Wage Revision has also become due on 1^st November 2012. Charter of Demands has already been submitted to Indian Banks’ Association under the leadership of All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) to whom we are affiliated to.

All are aware that Bank Officers have been working under severe stress and strain without sufficient infrastructure. Despite continuous recruitment of Officers over the last three years, the strength of officers in our bank has remained at the same level, which shows the poor Man Power Planning of the management. Yet, the management is indifferent to the sufferings of the officers and forcing them to perform without providing sufficient infrastructure.

Looking at the scenario in the Banking Industry and our Bank, this General Body Conference attains significance as it will be a guiding factor to all of us to face the challenges ahead.

ARRAGEMENTS FOR GENERAL BODY CONFERENCE:

As you are aware, every time the expenses for General Body Meeting are being met through donations from members as the subscription amount is not enough even to meet day to day expenses particularly with the spiraling price rise. As such, it has been decided by the Managing Committee to make an appeal to all the members to contribute a minimum amount as under to meet the expenses of General Body Conference.

Ordinary Members                                       Rs. 1500/-

Managing Committee Members               Rs. 2500/-

Office Bearers                                              Rs. 3500/-

We request all of you to rise to the occasion and respond positively by contributing liberally so as to conduct the General Body Conference successfully and gear up our machinery to face the challenges ahead in our Bank and the Banking Industry.

We also request you to remit the contributions directly to the credit of our A/c No. 1033321349 maintained with our Hyderabad Main Office.

We request all the members to send the contributions at the earliest and make the General Body Conference a thundering success.

We shall be informing the venue of the General Body Conference and detailed programme shortly.

Yours sincerely,

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 16 DATED 19.3.2013 ON ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM

AIBOC issued its circular No. 16 dated 19.3.2013 on Annual Performance Reporting System. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.16                                                        DATE: 19.03.2013

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORTING SYSTEM - SHARING OF REPORT WITH OFFICIALS CONCERNED - TRANSPARENCY IN THE SYSTEM OF ANNUAL APPRAISALS

One of the contentious issues that were being pursued by the Confederation both at the IBA level as well as at the bank level by our affiliates has been the need for a transparent system of Annual Appraisal System in respect of the Officers in the banking industry. The reporting system plays an important role when it comes to the question of career prospects of our members in particular at the time of the promotion exercise by the banks at various levels. The Government of India issued a detail notification in the year 2009 for the purpose of streamlining the system of confidential reporting. The 2nd Administrative Reforms Commission which is known for its pragmatic and practical approach had an occasion to examine the existing Annual Performance Reporting System and come to the conclusion that the Appraisal System is meant for the guidance of the officials concerned in the various institutions and they should be conscious of their performance and its ranking by their superiors so that they are able to do well in their promotional process.

It is in this background that the Government has issued detailed guidelines to various departments for compliance, in regard to the entries in the ACRs in the case of civil services under the Government of India.  The details are as follows:-

i)              The existing nomenclature of the Annual Confidential Report will be modified as Annual Performance Assessment Report (APAR).

ii)             The full APAR including the overall grade and assessment of integrity shall be communicated to the concerned officer after the Report is complete with the remarks of the Reviewing Officer and the Accepting Authority wherever such system is in vogue. Where Government servant has only one supervisory level above him as in the case of personal staff attached to officers, such communication shall be made after the reporting officer has completed the performance assessment.

iii)            The Section entrusted with the maintenance of APARs after its receipt shall disclose the same to the officer reported upon.

iv)           The concerned officer shall be given the opportunity to make any representation against the entries and the final grading given in the Report within a period of fifteen days from the date of receipt of the entries in the APAR. The representation shall be restricted to the specific factual observations contained in the report leading to assessment of the officer in terms of attributes, work output etc. While communicating the entries, it shall be made clear that in case no representation is received within the fifteen days, it shall be deemed that he/she has no representation to make. If the concerned APAR Section does not receive any information from the concerned officer on or before fifteen days from the date of disclosure, the APAR will be treated as final.

v)            The new system of communicating the entries in the APAR shall be made applicable prospectively only with effect from the reporting period 2008-09 which is to be initiated after 1st April 2009.

vi)           The competent authority for considering adverse remarks under the existing instructions may consider the representation, if necessary, in consultation with the reporting and/or reviewing officer and shall decide the matter objectively based on the material placed before him within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of the representation.

vii)          The competent authority after due consideration may reject the representation or may accept and modify the APAR accordingly. The decision of the competent authority and the final grading shall be communicated to the officer reported upon within fifteen days of receipt of the decision of the competent authority by the concerned APAR Section.

The banking industry is yet to implement the spirit of these guidelines in the reporting system. The reporting system as per the views of the 2nd Administrative Reforms should be more of consultative in nature and should be transparent to enable the officials concerned to improve their performance. It is in this background, we have to-day addressed a communication to the Chairman, Indian Banks’ Association, Mumbai requesting them to issue necessary instructions to all the Banks for the implementation of the above guidelines. A copy of our communication along with the Notification issued by the Government is enclosed.

All our affiliates/members are requested to await for further developments in the matter.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

No.1452/20/13                                                                                     19.03.2013

To,

The Chairman,

Indian Banks’ Association,

Stadium House, 6th Floor,

Block No.3, Veer Nariman Road,

MUMBAI – 400 020.

Dear Sir,

MAINTENANCE AND PREPARATION OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL REPORTS - NOTIFICATION ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES - NEED TO IMPLEMENT THE SAME IN BANKING INDUSTRY

We forward a copy of the Notification issued by the Government of India as early as in the year 2009 itself, giving out the broad guidelines in regard to the maintenance of confidential reporting system meant for the civil servants in the Government. Later on, the Ministry of Finance Department of Financial Services issued a Notification on 28th January, 2013 advising all Public Sector Banks to implement the scheme in their respective Banks. The spirits of the guidelines are equally applicable to us in view of the tremendous expansion and the large scale recruitment that is taking place in the Banking Industry. The new entrants in the industry are coming with a lot of expectation they would like to know their performance and wish to have it in a more transparent manner to enable them to draw appropriate conclusion and thus shape their performance in their functioning in order to prosper in their career in the banks.

The Confederation has been demanding for a long time a more robust and transparent system of promotion considering the tremendous opportunity that is now available to the new generation of employees who

are joining in the bank from a highly competitive environment. Hence, there is a need to review the existing appraisal system prevailing in the banks and come out with a broader and practical system of appraisal to ensure a fair and equitable opportunity to all the employees in the banks.

Please therefore ensure that the guidelines issued by the Government are complied with by not only Public Sector Banks but also all the Banks and to incorporate these provisions in their respective performance appraisal system in order to make the system more competitive and transparent one.

Please treat the matter as urgent.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 15 DATED 15.03.2013 ON TAX ON PERQUISITE VALUE OF ACCOMMODATION

AIBOC issued its circular No. 15 dated 15.3.2013 on Tax on Perquisite Value of Accommodation. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.15                                                              DATE:15.03.2013

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

TAX ON PERQUISITE VALUE OF ACCOMMODATION - W.P NO.14126 OF 2008 IN THE MATTER OF AIBOC VS. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

Please refer to our Circular No.30 dated 7th March, 2012 on the subject.

We have to advise that, the injection granted in the captioned writ petition in the matter of perquisite valuation of rent free accommodation under Income Tax is still in force, as advised by our advocate M/s HSB Partners, Chennai, vide their letter dated 21st February, 2013.

Copy of the said letter is enclosed.

Please be guided accordingly.

With greetings

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO.14 DATED 14.03.2013

AIBOC issued its circular No. 14 dated 14.3.2013 reproducing UFBU circular on protest against New Bank Licensing Policy. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.14                                                        DATE: 14.03.2013

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

PROTEST AGAINST THE NEW BANK LICENSING POLICY

PROTEST AGAISNT BANK LICENCE TO CORPROATE HOUSES

HOLD MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON 18-03-2013

We reproduce hereunder the UFBU Circular No.6 dated 08-03-2013 contents of which are self-explicit.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

TEXT

From the UFBU we have been demanding a vibrant banking sector in our country in order to subserve the socio-economic needs and keeping the basic national economic development in mind. While the public sector banks in our country, for the past more than five decades, have immensely contributed to these social objectives, the Government has been following the policy of liberalisastion and banking reforms for the past two decades. Because of this, the Government has been encouraging private sector banking and diluting the role of public sector banks in many ways. Even the equity capital contribution of the Government in the PSBs has been brought down. Recently, even the voting rights of private capital investors in PSBs have been increased 10 times from 1% to 10%. For the public sector Banks, the Government is toying with the idea of consolidation and' mergers but in the case of private banks and foreign banks, they talk of further expansion and encouragement.

As a part of these reform measures, recently, at the behest of the Government, the RBI has announced their new Bank Licensing Policy by which the private industrial, business and corporate houses will be permitted to open their own Banks.

Eligibility norms: Any private sector company including Non-Banking Finance Companies can open a Bank. Total capital requirement would be Rs. 500 crores out of which, the promoter company need to bring only Rs. 200 crores which can be further reduced to Rs. 75 crores after 5 years. Foreign capital will be allowed upto 49% in these Banks which can be increased to 74% after 5 years.

In a country where we find that 100 top billionaires have a minimum wealth of Rs. 5,000 crores each and with a total wealth of Rs. 12,50,000 crores ( 250 billion $), we can imagine the havoc they will play in the banking sector if they are allowed to enter banking business. These were the people who were owning banks in our country and who abused and misused the peoples savings for their own interests. That is why banks were nationalized in national interest. It is tragic that the government is now reversing the clock by giving them license to start their Banks.

The world over the experience is very bitter and most of the cases there have been a conflict of interest and mix up of people's savings with their own business needs. Many, sensible Economists have been pointing out the risks and dangers of corporates doing banking business and yet the Government is insensitive and is bent upon handing over banking license to them. Thus the flood-gate is sought to be opened.

Clearly, the move is not in the interest of our economy. The need is to strengthen the public sector banks and not boost private corporates into the banking sector. In consistence with our avowed policies and stand-points, UFBU opposes this' unwarranted move of the Government.

We need to express our protest and opposition to this move. Accordingly all our units are advises to under the following initial programme:

Ø  HOLDING MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND RALLIES IN ALL STATE CAPITALS AND OTHER IMPORTANT CITIES IN FRONT OF BANKS PREFERABLY BEFORE THE PREMISES OF RESERVE BANK OF INDIA WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

Ø  THE PROGRAMME SHOULD BE ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE LOCAL UNITS OF UFBU.

Ø  THE DEMONSTRATION SHOULD BE HELD ON 18TH MARCH, 2013.

Comrades, banks deal with people's money. It should be for the benefit of the common masses and not for private profiteering by the corporates. Rise in protest. Further programmes will be decided by the UFBU from its next meeting.

With greetings,

Yours comradely,

Sd/-

(P.K.SARKAR)

CONVENOR

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 09 DATED 08.03.13 ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY & PROMOTION PROCESS FOR SPECIALIST CATEGORY OFFICERS

CBOA-AP issued its circular No. 09 dated 08.03.2013 reproducing AICBOF circular on International Women’s Day and Promotion Process for Specialist Category Officers. We are placing the same here for our readers

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2013: 009                                       Date: 08.03.2013

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                               PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2013/09 dated 08.03.2013 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                      

                                                                                                                          

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

………………………..............................................................................

“INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY - FEDERATION SALUTES THE SPIRIT OF WOMANHOOD

Woman-a goddess of beauty, incarnation of motherhood, has a strong attribute of being an efficient worker, possesses an amazing horizon of caliber, dexterity and vogour, plays myriad roles and takes on a multifaceted responsibility with amazing ease. Today there is no field or functional area where women are not adorning important positions.

In the Banking industry, especially in PSB’s who had male domination at top echelons can boast of CMD’s in the person of Mrs.V.R.Iyer, CMD of Bank of India, Mrs.Subbulaxmi Panse, CMD of Allahabad Bank, besides the private sector ICICI Bank’s Ms. Chanda Kochar and Ms.Shikha Sharma,MD & CEO of Axis Bank.

We wish all our lady friends all the very Best in their health, happiness, safety, success and continued progress as well as prosperity in the years ahead.

Let us work sincerely to empower Rural women, end hunger and poverty.

PROMOTION PROCESS FOR THE SPECIALIST CATEGORY OFFICERS

You are aware that we have taken up the matter of initiating the promotion process in all specialist category officers and we are happy to inform you that our management has announced the process for all the specialist officers. There is a great enthusiasm and feeling of happiness particularly amongst the AFO’s on their opening up of a career opportunity after a long gap.

With the favorable decision of relaxation in eligibility period and other norms, a good number of young and energetic officers will get an opportunity to participate in the promotion process. We are thankful to our administration for enhancing the general morale of the specialist officers.

We convey our Best wishes to all the specialist officers who are willing to take up the higher responsibility.

We reproduce hereunder the communication to the management in respect of support from the DIT for the information of all officers.

SUPPORT & SERVICES FROM DIT

“We wish to remind your good selves that a couple of years back a meeting was arranged between DIT officials and the Union leaders, to sort out the problems faced by the branches. After that meeting, most of the issues suggested by us were resolved and still some of the issues are not being taken care by the DIT.

1.    Issues placed in the Help desk by the branches are not being attended by the DIT in time.

2.    Most of the issues are kept open.

3.    Some issues are being closed by DIT with the remark as SLA (service level agreement).

4.    Most of the issues kept in Help desk are being classified/prioritized as 3, 4, 5 & none. These classifications of the issues are not known to the staff members in the field.

5.    We also understand that nobody from DIT is monitoring the pending messages in the Help desk.

6.    Even though the request in the Help desk is being assigned to various officers at DIT, the solutions to most of the issues are not conveyed.

7.    One of our Manager (IT) stationed at Chennai ZCC has created ”ON LINE KNOWLEDGE SHARING”. These type of creations may be placed in the portal, so that officers who knows the solutions may share his/her views thro’ online. Such type of motivational aspects thro’ brainstorming with the entire team would bring clarity in thinking and overcome the inhibitions, barriors in the mind towards the problems.

8.    If the Help desk officers sitting in the DIT are taking more time to resolve the issues, then how the branch staff is expected to render service to the customers satisfactorily.

9.    We were informed, that the HELP DESK would be introduced in all ZCC/RCC, still to be decentralized.

In view of the above, we request the management to convene a meeting with the DIT officials, to resolve various issues”

We shall inform you the developments in due course.”

WITH FRATERNAL GREETINGS

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)                            

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 13 DATED 04.03.2013 ON UNWARRANTED PROVOCATIONS AND ATTACKS ON TRADE UNION RIGHTS IN SBI

AIBOC issued its circular No. 13 dated 04.03.2013 on unwarranted provocations and attacks on trade union rights in State Bank of India. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.13                                         DATE: 04.03.2013

TO ALL AFFILIATES /MEMBERS:

UNWARRANTED PROVOCATIONS AND ATTACKS ON TRADE UNION RIGHTS IN STATE BANK OF INDIA

We reproduce hereunder the letter No. UFBU/125/2013/ dated 4-3-2013 addressed to Mr.K.R.Kamath,Chairman,IBA and also to the Secretary ,Financial Services,Minister of Finance,Government of India. New Delhi for their early intervention.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

Our attention has been drawn to the recent disturbances to cordial industrial relations in State Bank of India. You are aware that State Bank of India is the largest public sector Bank in our country and is a flagship institution in the entire financial sector. The Bank represents nearly 1/3rd of the entire public sector banking and also employs more than 2,15,000 employees and officers. Hence the Bank is really unique in terms of the size, volume of business and number of workforce. It is expected that industrial relation in such a leading institution should be ideal and an example to others to follow. But we are constrained to observe that the industrial relations have deteriorated in the Bank which is causing anxiety and concern to us.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALL INDIA STATE BANK OFFICERS’ FEDERATION AND CHAIRMAN, STATE BANK OF INDIA

The All India State Bank Officers’ Federation is the sole bargaining agent for the officer community with the Management. The organization has a rich history and tradition of having succeeded as an independent, apolitical trade union organization representing the largest number of supervisory cadre in the entire world.  It is now in the threshold of completing 50 years of its long journey of conviction, commitment and dedication to the cause of the Bank Officers’ community in the banking industry and the people of our country

GENESIS OF THE ISSUE:

The new Chairman took charge of the bank during April 2011. In May 2011, there was a meeting between the leaders of the Federation /Circle Association wherein we had been assured to look into all the outstanding issues with the Federation and a few issues were flagged for urgent consideration.

Ø  Since then there was no real progress in addressing the issues though a few meeting was held.

Ø  The Federation was compelled to issue a strike notice to strike on 8th and 10th November 2011. The strike was withdrawn on 5th November 2011 on the assurance of the management that discussions will remain and positive view will be taken on all the issues.

Ø  Contrary to the assurances the top Management’s attitude towards the Federation changed and every action of Federation was treated with disdain.

Ø  Top Management personnel in all the Circles who used to participate in Association functions have now withdrawn from participation at the direction of the Chairman.

Ø  All bi-partite forums like Central/Circle Negotiating Councils were not conducted at regular intervals.

PRESENT CRISIS:-

Ø  During August  22nd  and  23rd of 2012 United Forum of Bank Unions called for a strike on number of issues including 5 day week in banking  Sector, in which we participated.

Ø  When there was so much of aspiration amongst the membership for 5 day week, the announcement by the Chairman of having seven day banking in State Bank of India came as a rude shock.

Ø  There was a spontaneous expression of the apprehension by the membership and to bring to the attention of the top Management a peaceful lunch time demonstration was conducted all over the country  in administrative offices on 28th August 2012.

Ø  In response to the demonstration the general secretaries of all Circle associations were issued a letter dated on 28.8.2012 cautioning them” to deist from such actions in future”. This was in the nature of administrative warning which is a minor penalty and the cause of action ended there.

Ø  The Federation showed enormous restraint, but on 22nd September, 2012 without any cause of action another letter was served on General Secretaries asking why they should not be proceeded against under Section 36AD of Banking Regulation Act.

Ø  Without waiting for a response, on 27th September 2012 all Presidents and General Secretaries were indiscriminately charge sheeted for legitimate Trade union action.

Ø  The Federation maintained utmost restraint in the face of such attacks curbing legitimate Trade Union right.

Ø  The Federation leadership sought a meeting with the Chairman on 4th October 2012 before submitting the reply to the Charge Sheet to avert untoward incidents in the industrial relations.  However, the Chairman used this opportunity only to abuse the leadership of the Federation.  He was not willing to address the issues.

Ø  On 8th October 2012 the Chairman addressed the entire workforce of the Bank through webcast and throughout his speech spit venom and fire on the leadership of the Federation. He also went to the extent of saying that the demonstration that was held on 28th August 2012 was a heinous crime on the part of the Federation and he would be vindictive against the leadership.  He also stated that he will take action against the Presidents and General Secretaries of all Circle Associations and will not take action against the other officers.

Ø  He has filed a case against the Federation at Mumbai High Court demanding Rs.100 crores as damages for bringing down the image of the Bank through a demonstration and asking the Honourable Court to restrain us from any agitation.

Ø  The Honourable Mumbai High Court appointed a mediator to mediate and settle the issues and the mediation failed due to the adamant attitude of the Chairman.

VINDICTIVENESS, INTIMIDATION AND COERCION BY THE TOP MANAGEMENT

Ø  Issue of charge sheet after the cause of action has been effectively extinguished by the letter dated 30th August 2012.

Ø  Deliberately serving the charge sheets even late in the night at the residences of the presidents and general secretaries humiliating them.

Ø  In the case of Com. Thaokar G S of Mumbai Circle association a Chief Manager flew down from Mumbai to Aurangabad to serve the Charge sheet.

Ø  Subsequently Com. Thaokar was placed under SBIOSR 19(3).

Ø  Caveats were served on all Presidents and General Secretaries and in certain cases at 10 different courts.

Ø  Even after the statement of defence were submitted well in time, no action was taken till 30th November 2012, thereby invoking the rule 19(3) in the case of two other senior office bearers.

Ø  The Disciplinary Authorities were not allowed to take independent decisions or allowed to apply their minds freely and fearlessly.

Ø  Even in cases where demonstrations were not held at Ahmedabad Circle or where the General Secretary did not participate as he was on sanctioned leave like the General Secretary of Bengal Circle, charge sheets were also issued to them.

Ø  For the same alleged offence one charge sheet issued to General Secretary of North Eastern Circle was subsequently withdrawn, as he became a Director of the Bank.

Ø  Inquiring Authority and Presenting Officers are sent from other Circles to conduct the Inquiry which has never been the practice in the Bank.

Ø  The Inquiry is being video-graphed or covered under CCTV which again is for the first time in history and is a violation of Disciplinary Proceedings and Human rights.

Ø  Vindictive transfer of Office bearers of the affiliates and AISBOF only because they had approached the court of law for staying the unjustified enquiry proceedings.

Ø  In a meeting of the DGMs and CDOs at Gurgaon, the Chairman openly expressed his vindictive attitude against the Federation leadership.  He also informed about the transfer of the DMD&CDO and CGM (HR) for their efforts to maintain industrial harmony.  He further mentioned three names of DGMs who have been promoted as GMs for the only reason that they were loyal to him.

Ø  Further in a meeting of DGM (B&Os) at Bhubaneshwar, the Chairman boasted openly that a DGM was promoted as GM for the sole reason of punishing an Office bearer of the Circle Association.  He also added that the AGM (HR) of the Circle has also been promoted only because of showing his loyalty to the Chairman.

Ø  A Dy. General Secretary of Bhubaneshwar Circle was charge sheeted and penalized by reduction in grade for an act which was treated by the Chairman as disobedience and causing loss of image to the Bank.  This punishment order was put up in the intranet site of the Bank which is for the first time in the history showing one more vindictive attitude of the Chairman.

Ø  The Chairman has ensured the transfer of Shri.Anirudh Akauri, former President of the Federation who was also former General Secretary of our Patna Circle and Shri.L.K.P. Singh, former President of the Patna Circle Association and posted to interiors of North East – even posting the former in a post which is below his rank.  The same has been displayed in SBI times to terrorize the others.

Ø  Now the Chairman is using all available internal forums to inflict more injuries and asking his juniors also to do the same.

Ø  There has been a clear case of intimidation, instilling fear among the officers which shows the malafide intention of the Chairman in curtailing the legitimate trade union activities of the Federation.

Shri Rakesh Agarwal, General Secretary of SBI Officers’ Association (Delhi Circle) has been given punishment of reduction in one scale and four increments cut for a peaceful lunch time demonstration.

The leadership of the Federation which has demonstrated tremendous patience & perseverance, is always willing to discuss the issues, desires to put an end to this impasse and not to resort to agitation without exhausting all the avenues available for a negotiated settlement in the matter.

But the attitude of the top management appears to be otherwise.  On the eve of the 2 day strike by 11 central trade unions and the UFBU, the Management of SBI has issued letters to its officers and employees not to participate in the strike and quoting section 36 AD of the Banking Regulation Act that action will be taken. It is pertinent to note that the Parliament has been given assurance that the Act will not be used to curtail legitimate and reasonable trade union rights. These issues were brought to the notice of the committee of Ministers by the Central Trade Unions on 18th February 2013 during negotiations and assurance was given that the matter will be taken up with Bank Management by the Government but the intimidation continued. In SBI the Management has started asking for explanation for participating in the strike.

The UFBU in its recent meeting took serious note of these intimidatory tactics of the management and also the vindictive attacks and reign of terror let loose on the officers in SBI.   The meeting further decided to draw the attention of the IBA on these unwarranted provocations so that IBA can take some steps to stop these attacks. We also wish to put the IBA on notice that if the SBI management does not stop the attacks, come forward to resolve the issues and restore cordial relationship, the UFBU cannot be expected to be a witness to these attacks, rather UFBU would be compelled to express its total solidarity with SBI officers by resorting to agitation in all Banks strike including all India strike.

We are sure that IBA would intervene in the matter effectively.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(P.K.SARKAR)

CONVENOR