When the US financial crisis has resulted in many of the private institutions to be saved by the Government and it is evident that financial organizations with the public sector suite can only comfortably strive, frequent strikes in public sector banks demonstrates an ironical signal. Bank strikes called by UFBU on 24th and 25th September have caused great inconvenience to the customers of public sector banks. They can withdraw cash through ATMs in cities at many places in spite of non-working of branches, but many a corners of the country do not have access to such delivery channels.
Not even a month has passed when SBI officers have participated recently in strike on 18.08.2008 against the acquisition of State Bank of Saurashtra by State Bank of India. SBI is at the top of banking pyramid and halting of work even for a day raises questions on trade unionism in the bank and will put its competitors at advantageous position. While the Government and the SBI/SBS management were busy in going ahead with the acquisition process, several officers under the aegis of AIBOC have participated in the strike. The strike was quoted very successful by AIBOC, however, as reported by spokesperson of Bank Officers Progressive Forum (A Pressure Group), many branches worked during the last strike. Even the SBS officers, who were by then part of SBI (after the RBI Executive Order dated 13.08.2008) were in an utter dilemma and had to unwillingly participate in the strike having been forced by AIBOC.
Almost all the officers of remaining six Associate Banks are in favour of bank-merger and in the strike of 24.09.2008, many officers have reported to have attended office across the State Bank Group. At Delhi Centre, several officers have attended branches in State Bank of Mysore. In Mumbai, officers of State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad and State Bank of Indore have defied strike and joined duties in Core Data Centre, Belapur. Similarly, 80% of the officers of SBM have come to the office i.e. Treasury, BKC and five branches.
SBI Chairman has agreed to provide all the benefits to the ABs officials at par with that of SBI officials consequent upon merger. Third benefit, unlimited medical aid and concessional loans could easily flow to all of these ABs officers after the merger. But trade unionism has made them deprived of all these benefits carrying the carcass of redundant ideologies. When merger is for the benefit of all, why the office bearers of trade unions are drifting themselves away from the wishes of the members.
BOPF through its blog http://bankofficersprogressiveforum.blogspot.com has been communicating the progressive views to the entire officers fraternity and appealing for not participating in the strike. The blog has changed the obsolete ideologies of trade unionism and instilled courage in the heart of officers of all the Associate Banks. Many officers have attended duty on 24.09.2008 and number is likely to increase on the strike of 25.09.2008.It is a great move by the forum for providing better facilities and would serve their customers in a long way, besides contributing to the organizational development as well as economic upliftment of the country.
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