AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 84 DATED 31.10.2012

CIRCULAR NO.84                                          31-10-2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS

DEARBESS ALLOWANCE

The Index Numbers for the quarter ended  September 2012  are as under:

MONTH	INDEX AS PER	CONVERSION	INDEX AS PER
	2001 SERIES	FACTOR	1960 SERIES
July 2012	212	4.63 x 4.93	4839.09
Aug 2012	214	4.63 x 4.93	4884.74
Sep 2012	215	4.63 x 4.93	4907.56
		Total	14631.39
	Average =	14631.39/3	4877.13
Difference in excess of 2836 points			2041.13
D.A paid for the previous quarter on (i.e. 468 x 4)			1872.00
Difference			169.13
Increase in number of Slabs = 169.13/4			42.28

Accordingly, Dearness Allowance is payable to Officers on 510 (i.e. 468+42) slabs with effect from 01-11-2012 as against 468 slabs for the previous quarter. The rates of Dearness Allowance at various stages of basic pay are furnished overleaf. The rates worked out are as per the industry level scales upto Scale VII including SBI.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

D.A. PAYABLE FROM I ST NOVEMBER 2012 TO  31ST  JANUVARY  2013
	RATE OF D.A. 0.15% PER SLAB (510 X 0.15= 76.50%)
	STAGES	BASIC	CONVERSION	EXISITING-DA	REVISED-DA	DIFFERENCE
		PAY	FACTOR	468	510	DA
	1	14500	21.750	10179.00	11092.50	913.50
	2	15100	22.650	10600.20	11551.50	951.30
	3	15700	23.550	11021.40	12010.50	989.10
	4	16300	24.450	11442.60	12469.50	1026.90
	5	16900	25.350	11863.80	12928.50	1064.70
	6	17500	26.250	12285.00	13387.50	1102.50
	7	18100	27.150	12706.20	13846.50	1140.30
	8	18700	28.050	13127.40	14305.50	1178.10
	9	19400	29.100	13618.80	14841.00	1222.20
	10	20100	30.150	14110.20	15376.50	1266.30
	11	20900	31.350	14671.80	15988.50	1316.70
	12	21700	32.550	15233.40	16600.50	1367.10
	13	22500	33.750	15795.00	17212.50	1417.50
	14	23300	34.950	16356.60	17824.50	1467.90
	15	24100	36.150	16918.20	18436.50	1518.30
	16	24900	37.350	17479.80	19048.50	1568.70
	17	25700	38.550	18041.40	19660.50	1619.10
	18	26500	39.750	18603.00	20272.50	1669.50
	19	27300	40.950	19164.60	20884.50	1719.90
	20	28100	42.150	19726.20	21496.50	1770.30
	21	28900	43.350	20287.80	22108.50	1820.70
	22	29700	44.550	20849.40	22720.50	1871.10
	23	30600	45.900	21481.20	23409.00	1927.80
	24	31500	47.250	22113.00	24097.50	1984.50
	25	32400	48.600	22744.80	24786.00	2041.20
	26	33300	49.950	23376.60	25474.50	2097.90
	27	34200	51.300	24008.40	26163.00	2154.60
	28	35100	52.650	24640.20	26851.50	2211.30
	29	35200	52.800	24710.40	26928.00	2217.60
	30	36200	54.300	25412.40	27693.00	2280.60
	31	37200	55.800	26114.40	28458.00	2343.60
	32	38200	57.300	26816.40	29223.00	2406.60
	33	39300	58.950	27588.60	30064.50	2475.90
	34	40400	60.600	28360.80	30906.00	2545.20
	35	42000	63.000	29484.00	32130.00	2646.00
	36	43200	64.800	30326.40	33048.00	2721.60
	37	44400	66.600	31168.80	33966.00	2797.20
	38	45600	68.400	32011.20	34884.00	2872.80
	39	46800	70.200	32853.60	35802.00	2948.40
	40	48100	72.150	33766.20	36796.50	3030.30
	41	49400	74.100	34678.80	37791.00	3112.20
	42	50700	76.050	35591.40	38785.50	3194.10
	43	52000	78.000	36504.00	39780.00	3276.00
		410	0.615	287.82	313.65	25.83
		1030	1.545	723.06	787.95	64.89

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 82 DATED 31.10.2012

CIRCULAR NO.82                                          31st OCTOBER, 2012

To,

ALL OUR AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

SUBMISSION OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS - 10TH BIPARTITE NEGOTIATIONS TO COMMENCE - FORWARDING MANDATE BY MEMBER BANKS

We are happy to inform all our members and affiliates all over the country that the United Forum of Bank Unions has submitted a comprehensive Charter of Demands covering various aspects of negotiations with a view to commence the negotiations on 10th Bipartite Settlement in all seriousness. The appointment sought by the leadership of UFBU with the Chairman, IBA for submission of comprehensive charter of demands by the Workmen and the Officers’ organizations covering the demands of the workmen as well as the officers during the current negotiations, that is, the 10th Bipartite, was since granted by IBA. The meeting took place on 30th of October 2012. The details are available on our Website www.aiboc.org.

In the meanwhile, we have yet another important task that requires to be attended immediately by our affiliates so that the negotiations resume in good time. Our members are aware that the Confederation has advised in their earlier communication that the affiliates should follow-up with their respective management for sending their mandate to IBA in order to begin the negotiations in good time. While, it is the duty of each and every member banks of IBA to submit their mandate in good time to avoid any delay in the commencement of negotiations, the IBA will definitely await the commencement of negotiations until the majority of members submit their mandate authorizing IBA to negotiate on their behalf, we need to follow-up the issue with the respective managements of the Bank.

We therefore request all our affiliates to take up the matter with their respective Chairman of the Banks and pursue them to send their mandate without further delay. We furnish a draft letter that is to be addressed to the Chairmen of the banks in this regard for your taking up the matter with the management of the bank without further delay.

We note to keep advised of further developments in the matter.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

Draft Letter

To,

The Chairman and

Managing Director,

MANDATE TO IBA - 10TH BIPARTITE NEGOTIATIONS

We are now getting ready to resume negotiations on the 10th Bipartite with the Indian Banks’ Association in the light of the fact that the 9th bipartite expires on 31st October 2012. We are happy to inform you that the Confederation has submitted a comprehensive charter of demands taking into account the hopes and aspirations of our rank and file across the country. It is our intention that the negotiations should commence immediately and the talks should be concluded in good time so that the officers’ fraternity will be able to get the revised salary without much delay.

In the meanwhile, we were given to understand that the IBA is yet to receive the mandate from some of the member banks. We therefore request you to kindly send your mandate to IBA to enable them to negotiate on your behalf with the leadership of the Confederation if you have not submitted so far.

Please treat the matter as urgent.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 81 DATED 22.10.2012

CIRCULAR NO.81                                                      22nd OCTOBER, 2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES & MEMBERS:

UNIFORM HOLIDAYS UNDER CHENNAI GRID BASED CTS - UNILATERAL INSTRUCTION OF RBI WITHDRAWN

Our attention was drawn to the decision / instructions given to all the Banks under Chennai Bankers Clearing House by Reserve Bank of India, Chennai Office to adopt uniform holidays with a view to operationalise the Grid based Cheque Truncation System. We had taken up the matter with The General Manager, Regional Office, Reserve Bank of India, CHENNAI vide our letter No.1481/142/12 dated 17.10.2012 copy of which was circulated to all our affiliates through AIBOC Circular No.79 Dt.18.10.2012. The UFBU had also taken up the matter with the Chairman, Indian Banks Association vide its letter dated 17.10.2012, since the unilateral instruction of working on holidays is an violation of the bilaterally negotiated settlement between the Banks and the Unions. The local chapter of the UFBU also met the General Manager of RBI, Chennai on 17.10.2012 and submitted a memorandum requesting him to restore the holidays as per the NI Act.

We are happy to inform all our affiliates that the Reserve Bank of India, has since withdrawn its unilateral instructions and the standing committee of the Chennai Bankers Clearing House at its meeting on 18th October 2012 decided that the Chennai Grid based CTS will not function on the dates which are holidays declared under NI Act by the state Government of Tamil Nadu.

Comrades, we have once again proved that only collective action by the Bank Unions can protect the Trade Union Rights. Let us remain united in all our struggles.

With Revolutionary greetings,

Sd/-

 (D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 80 DATED 19.10.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 80 dated 19.10.2012 on submission of Charter of Demands to IBA. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.80                                          19TH OCTOBER, 2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES & MEMBERS:

SUBMISSION OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS TO IBA

The United Forum of Bank Unions have sought an appointment with the Chairman of IBA for the purpose of submission of Common Charter of demands both in respect of the Officers and the Award Staff prepared by the Officers’ Organizations and the Workmen Staff independently for submission together.  We enclose a copy of the circular received from the UFBU the contents of which are self explicit.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

NO:1462/20/12                                                Date: 19.10.2012

To,

The Chairman,

Indian Banks’ Association,

Stadium House, 6th Floor,

Block No.3, Veer Nariman Road,

MUMBAI – 400 020.

Dear Sir,

SUBMISSION OF COMMON CHARTER OF DEMANDS - COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATION ON 10TH BIPARTITE

We take this opportunity to convey our good wishes and greetings on the occasion of the Pooja and Deepavali Festivals that would bring all round joy and happiness throughout the country on behalf of the entire workforce in the banking industry. It is also an occasion for the Employees and Officers during the current year to rejoice due to the expiry of the 9th Bipartite Settlement and the resumption of negotiations on the 10th Bipartite Settlement hoping for a fair deal to them in the coming days. You are aware that the 9th Bipartite Settlement period comes to an end on 31st of October 2012, and we will be entitled to get our salary revision with effect from 1st November 2012 after detail negotiations between the IBA and the workmen and officers’ organizations in the banking industry.

It is in this direction that the workmen union and officers’ organizations have collectively prepared comprehensive common charter of demands after threadbare discussions amongst themselves during the last few days and have arrived at a common charter to be submitted both by the Workmen Unions and Officers’ Organizations together with the respective Charter of Demands prepared by both the category of employees. The tradition that was being followed by the constituents of United Forum of Bank Unions over the last 3 bipartite has been to call on you and submit the same preferably before the expiry of the Bipartite settlement and also to resume negotiations in good time.

Accordingly, we have now kept our Charter of Demands ready for submission to you with a request for early commencement of the negotiations. We therefore request you to kindly fix up a date during last week of October, 2012 and time which is convenient to you and advise the same to us immediately to enable us to call on you and submit our Charter of Demands.

Please treat the matter as urgent.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(P.K.SARKAR)

CONVENOR

CBOA-AP CIRCULAR NO. 036 DATED 17.10.2012

CBOA-AP issued its circular NO. 036 dated 17.10.2012 reproducing the circular No. 34 issued by the Federation on Charter of Demands, Transfer Policy and placement of AIS & Seniority Promotees. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.: GS: 2012: 036                              Date: 17.10.2012

TO ALL OFFICERS                                                  PLEASE CIRCULATE

Dear Friends,

We reproduce hereunder the Circular No. CIRCULAR/GS/2012/34 dated 17.10.2012 received from our Federation for your information.

With best regards                                                                      

Yours sincerely

Sd/-

(C.A. MALLIKARJUNA RAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY

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

“SUBMISSION OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS - IBA REQUESTED FOR A MEETING

We reproduce hereunder the communication received from AIBOC for your information.

“Our members may recollect that the Executive Committee of the Confederation constituted a Sub-Committee with a view to prepare a comprehensive Charter of Demands on behalf of the officers’ fraternity under the leadership of Com.P.K.Sarkar, the President of the Confederation.  The Committee met a couple of times and after threadbare deliberations and collecting the views from the affiliates and members from different parts of the country finalized the draft report to be approved by the Executive Committee. After the sub-committee presented the Draft Charter to the Executive Committee of the Confederation a threadbare discussions were held on the subject and the views of the members of the Working Committee was considered and necessary corrections were made in the Charter of Demands.

The Working Committee also suggested that we should discuss the issue of presenting a Common Charter with the other 3 officers’ organization and thereafter should explore the possibility of the submission jointly to the Indian Banks’ Association during the month of October 2012.

The Confederation took initiative and convened a meeting of the Officers’ organization at Chennai for a threadbare discussion on the subject.  The officers’ organizations were unanimous that a comprehensive Common Charter should be submitted after incorporating the suggestions obtained in the meeting.  Accordingly, the comprehensive common charter of demands has since been completed and ready for submission.

We have been receiving anxious enquiries from different parts of the country as to the developments in this regard.  We wish to convey all our members that the Confederation is in readiness to submit the Charter of Demands on behalf of the entire officers’ fraternity along with the other officers’ organization together as agreed in the meeting of the Officers’ organizations.  We have also sent a request to the Indian Banks’ Association for an appointment to enable us to submit the same.

In the meanwhile, due to the festival holidays in particular pooja holidays in different parts of the country, we may have to wait till the end of the month to lead the delegation and submit the Charter of Demands to the Indian Banks Association. The details will be shared with the members all over the country when the task of submitting the Charter of Demands to IBA is completed.”

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

TRANSFER POLICY

On 10th Oct 2012, we had a final round of discussion with the management for some important changes in the existing transfer policy, and the positive approach shown by our administration is very much encouraging.

PLACEMENT OF AIS & SENIORITY PROMOTEES

With the addition of 1500 Assistant Managers to our system, growth of business would certainly fasten and there will surely be effective functioning of branches. We are happy to inform that the results of AIS is released and request the Scale-I officers those who have already completed their minimum tenure in the branch, to apply for their request at the earliest.

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES TO ALL THE AIS OFFICERS

POOJA GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU”

Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-

(A.R. SAIFULLAH)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 79 DATED 18.10.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 79 dated 18.10.2012 on Unilateral instructions of RBI on uniform holidays under grid based CTS. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.79                                            18TH OCTOBER, 2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES & MEMBERS:

UNILATERAL INSTRUCTIONS OF RBI ON UNIFORM HOLIDAYS UNDER GRID BASED CTS

The Reserve Bank of India has unilaterally announced adoption of uniform Holiday Calendar under Grid Based Cheque Truncation System for the southern grid without proper consultation with us.

Holidays are declared by the respective State Government’s under NI Act taking into account the local festivals of the state concerned. These holidays cannot be unilaterally annulled under the pretext of affording uninterrupted services. Leave and Holidays are part of the service conditions of the Officers covered by the bilateral settlements in the Banks as well as holidays declared under the N.I Act by the Government in the States.

We have taken up the matter with the Reserve Bank of India not to impose uniform Holidays under grid based CTS. A copy of our communication is enclosed for information.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

No.1481/142/12                                                          17.10.2012

To,

The General Manager,

Regional Office,

Reserve Bank of India,

Fort Glacis,

CHENNAI.

Dear Sir,

UNILATERAL INSTRUCTIONS OF RBI ON UNIFORM HOLIDAYS UNDER GRID BASED CTS

We invite your kind reference to RBI letter No.PSS(Che)/151/7.04.2208/ 2012-13 dated 29.08.2012 and letter No.DPSS(Che)/187/07.04.008/ 2012-13 dated 07.09.2012. The Reserve Bank of India has unilaterally announced adoption of Uniform Holiday Calendar under Grid Based Cheque Truncation System for the Southern Grid without proper consultations with the Bank Unions.

Holidays are declared by the State Governments under NI Act taking into account the local festivals and the religious sentiments of the population of the state concerned.  These holidays cannot be unilaterally annulled by any other Authority under the pretext of affording uninterrupted services.  Reverting to the issue under reference, we wish to reiterate that leave and holidays are part of the service conditions of the bank employees covered by the bilateral settlements in the Banks as well as declared under the N I Act by the Government in the States and hence should not be altered or modified administratively or unilaterally.

But we learn that RBI, Chennai has advised all Banks that the Chennai based Southern Grid CTS will remain closed only for 9 days for the year 2012 and on all other days, the same would be operational. 15th October, 2012 was a declared holiday under NI Act in the state of Karnataka for Mahalaya Amavasya but Banks had informed the employees and officers that the clearing departments would function and hence employees and officers should attend office on that holiday. This goes against the fundamental right of a citizen in celebrating his religious festivals.

Similarly, 23rd, 24th and 27th October is holidays under NI Act for Tamilnadu on account of Ayudha Pooja and Bakrid which are very important festivals and religious functions.  But, as per RBI instructions, employees and officers in Chennai working in the Cheque Processing Centres would be compelled to attend office on these holidays. In the name of improving the cheque clearance system, such transgression into the rightful leave and holiday entitlements of the staff is unacceptable. To make the employee of a Bank work on his holiday on account of religious festival only because some of the States under the Grid do not celebrate the particular festival is highly objectionable and tantamount to infringing upon the rights of the citizen.

The All India Bank Officers Confederation are always for improvements in the area of customer service, but denial of legitimate holidays to the officers/employees can never be compromised. Unilateral decisions cannot be taken by RBI or IBA or any bank management on issues relating to service conditions. Leave and Holidays are part of the service conditions of the bank employees under the bilateral settlements.  Any change can be done by proper and mutual discussions. Bipartite settlement does provide for contingencies when employees can be asked to work or Sundays or holidays with payment of overtime wages but does not provide for cancellation of holidays as declared by the State Governments under NI Act.

It is a paradox that in RBI, 5 Day banking has been introduced but RBI wants reduction of existing holidays of employees and officers in other Banks!  The RBI after tactfully withdrawing itself from clearing house operations and handing it over to a private company viz. National Payment Corporation, RBI is today trying to interfere with the holiday entitlement of the bank employees and officers.  Since the issue involves certain facility to the customers, the AIBOC desired to take up the matter with RBI to sort out the same amicably. Before we take any action in this regard, we once again wish to bring this problem to your kind attention with the expectation to resolve the issue bilaterally. 

We request you to please bestow your personal attention in this matter and ensure that RBI Chennai withdraws its order of restricting the holidays for the Grid Based CTS and restore normalcy immediately.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

GENERAL SECRETARY

Copy to:

The Governor, Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai.

The Secretary, (Banking), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, New Delhi.

National Payment Corporation of India,

Chief Executive Officer, Indian Banks Association, Mumbai.

The DMD & CDO, State Bank of India, Corporate Centre, Mumbai. 

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 78 DATED 16.10.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 78 dated 16.10.2012 on submission of Charter of Demands. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO: 78                                                  16th October,2012

To All affiliates/members

SUBMISSION OF CHARTER OF DEMANDS - IBA REQUESTED FOR A MEETING

Our members may recollect that the Executive Committee of the Confederation constituted a Sub-Committee with a view to prepare a comprehensive Charter of Demands on behalf of the officers’ fraternity under the leadership of Com.P.K.Sarkar, the President of the Confederation.  The Committee met a couple of times and after threadbare deliberations and collecting the views from the affiliates and members from different parts of the country finalized the draft report to be approved by the Executive Committee. After the sub-committee presented the Draft Charter to the Executive Committee of the Confederation a threadbare discussions were held on the subject and the views of the members of the Working Committee was considered and necessary corrections were made in the Charter of Demands.

The Working Committee also suggested that we should discuss the issue of presenting a Common Charter with the other 3 officers’ organization and thereafter should explore the possibility of the submission jointly to the Indian Banks’ Association during the month of October 2012.

The Confederation took initiative and convened a meeting of the Officers’ organization at Chennai for a threadbare discussion on the subject.  The officers’ organizations were unanimous that a comprehensive Common Charter should be submitted after incorporating the suggestions obtained in the meeting.  Accordingly, the comprehensive common charter of demands has since been completed and ready for submission.

We have been receiving anxious enquiries from different parts of the country as to the developments in this regard.  We wish to convey all our members that the Confederation is in readiness to submit the Charter of Demands on behalf of the entire officers’ fraternity along with the other officers’ organization together as agreed in the meeting of the Officers’ organizations.  We have also sent a request to the Indian Banks’ Association for an appointment to enable us to submit the same.

In the meanwhile, due to the festival holidays in particular pooja holidays in different parts of the country, we may have to wait till the end of the month to lead the delegation and submit the Charter of Demands to the Indian Banks Association. The details will be shared with the members all over the country when the task of submitting the Charter of Demands to IBA is completed.

Hence, all our members are requested to await further developments in this regard

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 77 DATED 08.10.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 77 dated 08.10.2012 on UFBU meeting held on 28^th September 2012. We are placing the same here for our readers.

CIRCULAR NO.77                                                     8th October, 2012

TO ALL AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:

UFBU MEETING HELD ON 28TH SEPT. 2012

We reproduce hereunder the text of the UFBU Circular No.25 dated 3rd  October, 2012 contents of which are self-explicit.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(D.S.RISHABADAS)

GENERAL SECRETARY

TEXT

A meeting of the UFBU was held at Chennai on 28th September, 2012.  Com. S.S. Shishodia (President of AIBOA) presided over the meeting.

A report on the developments that have taken place since the last meeting was placed by the Convener narrating the general political and economic scenario obtaining at the moment and the issues taken up by the UFBU.

Congrats for the successful strike:  The meeting congratulated all the units and the multitudes of our membership for their magnificent response to the call of the UFBU to make the 2 Days strike on 22nd and 23rd August, 2012 a splendid success.  The meeting noted that our struggle, strike actions and preparation for instant strike, etc. had its own impact on the Government and consequently, the Banking Laws Amendment Bill which they attempted to pass in the recent Session could not go through.  Our strike action also helped in getting necessary national focus on the reasons and demands of our struggle.

Further course of action: The meeting decided that given the continued attempts of the Government to pursue their banking reforms agenda and non-resolution of our demands, we need to continue our struggle further.  While deciding that any attempt to get the Bill passed in the next winter session should be answered by continuing our resistance, the meeting decided the following as follow-up actions:

a)      On our own demands like compassionate appointment, 5 day banking, regulated working hours, pension scheme improvements, etc. – Submission of memorandum letters to the IBA by all our unions in October/November, 2012.

b)      On Banking reforms and Bill:  Continue the campaign through meeting all central trade unions, political parties, MPs, mass signature collection from general public and bank customers in petition to Speaker, Lok Sabha during November/December, 2012.

Call of Central Trade Unions for struggle:  The meeting took note of the declaration of the Trade Union Convention organized jointly by all the Central Trade Unions against the increasing anti-people, anti-labour policies of the Government and its call for struggles and strike actions.  The meeting welcomed this united initiative and struggle and extended its support.  The meeting decided that the decision to join their call for 2 days strike in February, 2013 will be decided after each constituent Unions take a view on the same at their level.

Common charter of demands:  The meeting discussed the issue of wage revision and the need to submit Charter of Demands on the IBA.  After discussions, common approach was evolved on the basic approach to wage revision.  It was decided that workmen unions and officers associations would finalise their respective common charter whereafter the same would be jointly submitted to the IBA by the middle of this month.

Attacks in SBI against Officers Association – extend support: The meeting took serious note of the unwarranted attacks by the SBI management on legitimate trade union rights and the vindictive actions being contemplated against the leaders of AISBOF.  The meeting adopted a resolution extending support of UFBU to the agitation by AISBOF and calling upon the management to withdraw these attacks.”

Sd/-

(P.K. SARKAR)

CONVENOR

AIBOC CIRCULAR NO. 76 DATED 30.09.2012

AIBOC issued its circular No. 76 dated 30.09.2012 on the victimization of SBI Management against leaders of All India State Bank Officers’ Federation. We are placing the same here for our readers.

Circular No.76                                                                        30th September, 2012

TO ALL AFFILAITES/MEMBERS:

ATTACK ON TRADE UNION RIGHTS - SBI MANAGEMENT RESORTS TO VICTIMIZATION - OF LEADERS OF ALL INDIA STATE BANK OFFICES’ FEDERATION

The Management of the State Bank of India has unleashed a series of attacks on the trade union rights of the members of the All India State Bank Officers’ Federation a largest managerial trade union not only in the country but in the world as well.  In a series of attacks that has been resorted in the recent past by the Top Executives of the Management of the Bank is unheard of in the recent past.  The events that led to this calculated attack is a signal to the entire trade union fraternity that the Managements would take every opportunity to undermine the unity and solidarity of the trade unions in the country.  The events that led to the current industrial unrest in State Bank of India dates back to the agitation call given by the Federation during November,2011.  One of the issues slated for the strike action was the issue of introduction of 5 days’ week in the Bank and the Management took a position that the issue cannot be decided at the Bank level and needs to be taken up with the IBA and the Government.  Thereafter there were few skirmish occasions which did not matter for serious confrontation between the Management and the Federation.

During the month of August 2012, the Chairman of the Bank announced in a Press Conference that the bank is considering the proposal to introduce 7 days banking in the bank which was contrary to the demand of the Federation and also the stand that the Management had taken earlier.  The Federation leadership was surprised at these developments since the Management has not brought up the subject for discussions in the bipartite and no attempt was made to elicit the views of the Federation by the Management before going to the press on the issue.  The leadership of the Federation gave a call for immediate reaction through countrywide demonstration on 28th August 2012 which was a massive one and held in the Local Head Offices and also several other administrative offices. The Management took exception to these developments and the Circle Associations were served with a letter cautioning the leadership to desist from such demonstrations which would harm the image of the Bank.  The Federation did not take any cognizance of this letter.  However, the Management thereafter issued another communication seeking the explanation of the leadership of the Circle Association and quoted 36 AD of the Banking Regulation Act.  When there was no reply to these letters the Managements in all the circles have issued charge sheets to the Presidents and General Secretaries of the Circle Associations and has threatened that the Management would proceed with the conduct of the enquiry proceedings against the charge of violation of 36 AD provisions of the Banking Regulation Act.

It is also reported that the Management is contemplating a series of actions to undermine the solidarity and unity of the organization.  The top executives have been using the internal media to malign the organization and also terrorize the members across the country.

The attitude of the Management of SBI is highly condemnable and deserves to be retaliate to ensure that the trade union rights are carried forward under the banner of the Federation. 

We are in touch with the leadership of the Federation and we were advised the leadership of the Federation will be meeting at Chennai and deliberate about the future course of action including the strike action if need be.  We also wish to convey the rank and file of our State Bank across the country that the membership of the Confederation shall be behind all their struggles and are in readiness to extend solidarity support and participate in those programmes on the call of the Confederation.

           

In the meanwhile we wish to keep our members apprised of these developments and  appeal to them to be in readiness for any action programme in the event of the Federation giving directions to their members after the conclusion of the meeting at Chennai.  At this hour of crisis, we wish to convey our solidarity support and readiness to implement any action programme decided by their organization with a view to defend the honour and dignity of the Federation.  Our members are therefore requested to be in readiness for immediate action at short notice in due course.

With greetings,

Sd/-

(P.K. SARKAR)

PRESIDENT