FORMATION OF “BANK OFFICERS’ PROGRESSIVE FORUM” – A PRESSURE GROUP WITHIN THE ASSOCIATION

NEED FOR A DISTINCT FORUM:

It has been noted with concern that, of late, the voluntary groups like officers’ associations/ federation turn themselves into autocracies and become “ NON-REPRESENTATIVE “ in their approach .The inabilities of office bearers to justify their calls for strikes and other kind of precipitate actions, on many occasions, lack conviction and they start demanding participation for the call in the name of trade union unity, which do not benefit its members. The actions can be justified when these office bearers have convincingly replied to the doubts of their members.

It is absurd to call for a unified action like strike when majority of office bearers are in dilemma about their actions and are unsure that whether the same call may deny / defer the achievement of better working conditions for their members. The concern becomes bigger, when the representatives start threatening their own comrades, instead of taking them into confidence and reaching to a conclusion by consensus. The very act of forcing its members to go for certain actions, not properly debated, by using authoritative measures raises serious concerns about the viability of the trade unions. This hurts the very purpose of formation of trade unions, which are meant to protect individual members from unjustified actions of the authorities.

In this situation, there is an urgent need for a forum (a pressure group within the association), where such issues can be properly debated and the trade union can be advised and brought forward for a better communication among its members. This would strengthen the long-term perspective of individual members and the trade union itself.

With the above backdrop, a forum named as “Bank Officers’ Progressive Forum” has been formed on 16.08.2008 with a handful of like-minded officers meeting in Mumbai and enrolling as members of the forum.


PREAMBLE OF THE FORUM:


“The forum would work to earn a better quality of life for its members by way of a representation in negotiations with management, enable the members to work without any fear caused through coercion by an individual/group, arrive at a course of action in the event of ideological differences through consensus, present and discuss all the concerns jeopardizing the interest of the members with the Association and propagate the progressive ideas and thoughts for debate/discussion before inducting as forum’s view points.”


FIRST MEETING HELD ON 16.08.2008 LEADING TO FORMATION OF THE FORUM:

Venue: CAB Mumbai

“We the following officers have attended a meeting at CAB, Mumbai on 16/08/2008 and have decided to form a forum for representing common concern of the officers and arriving at common issues by consensus pertaining to the problems faced by an individual/group. This forum will be a body that would interact all the outside agencies viz. trade unions, banks quasi-government, government, press and other agencies

The body also focuses on various issues related to HR policies, corporate strategies and other miscellaneous issues. Any other amendment in the forum will be done by an evolutionary process, due course. The forum also endeavors to include officers from all branches/officers of SBM and other like-minded banks.” (Excerpts from the forum-register)

SIGNIFICANT MEETING HELD ON THE DAY OF ILLOGICAL STRIKE i.e. 18.08.2008:

Venue: CDC Belapur

“Agenda: Taking stock of the situation after non-participation in irrational strike called against merger with SBI, specifically SBS merger, which has already taken place on 13/08/2008.

All the attending members reviewed the situation on today 18/08/2008 and were happy to note that about 70 like minded officers across the country in about 47 branches reported for duty. Members were of the view that majority of officers of AB’s were against the strike, but only a small number dared to come out of fear generated by office-bearer of the association. In SBH more than 500 officers are understood to have reported for duties. Similarly, in SBP more than 60 branches are learnt to have functioned today.

There is likelihood of some kind of reaction in the form of debate/discussion, which forum will respond to, in most appropriate fashion. Any remark against its members will be considered remark against the forum. “ (Excerpts from the forum-register)

An Invitation/Appeal: Quoting the words of Rabindranath Tagore, “ Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high”, we appeal to all the progressive bank officers to live with dignity and invite to the Bank Officers’ Progressive Forum to enroll as members after deeply realizing the need of the existence of the forum and acceding to its preamble. Membership form is provided in Annexure. The printed form duly filled and signed may be forwarded to the Forum.

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MEMBERSHIP FORM

BANK’S OFFICERS’ PROGRESSIVE FORUM

I, ………………………………………………, Designation…………………., Employee

No……………………, presently working at ………………………………branch, have

agreed to join the Bank’s Officers’ Progressive Forum on this day, ………………,20…. I

I also agree to abide by the terms and conditions (to be arrived on mutual consultation in

due course) applicable to the members of this forum.


Signature: --

Name: --

Bank: -- State Bank of Mysore / Specify the Bank if other than SBM

Email-id: --

Suggestion-box: --