Banking services to be hit as lakhs of employees to go on 2-day strike from Dec 16

The strike call was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body of nine unions in the banking sector

Bank employees participate in a rally against proposed privatisation of nationalised banks, in Kolkata. Credit: PTI Photo

An estimated 10 lakh bank employees, including officers, will be on a strike for two days, starting Thursday. A joint-platform representing nine bank employee bodies on Wednesday took the decision after having failed to receive an assurance from the Centre that the proposed Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 will not be tabled in the current session of the Parliament.

The ATMs will be operational. The problem, however, will be when the cash gets exhausted, and replenishment may not be possible as the branches will be non-functional.

“All public sector banks are to stay closed. We are opposing the government’s move to privatise the public sector banks. Seven unions (part of the forum) are on strike. Shiv Sena affiliated union (not a part of the joint-platform) is also on strike, independently. Today, also, we had a meeting but received no positive response,” Sanjeev K Bandlish, convenor, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), told Deccan Herald. “If it’s not coming this session, we are ready to defer the agitation,” he added.

UFBU comprises nine employee bodies. However, seven are part of the two-day agitation. When asked if the strike is likely to affect common people who come for transactions, Sanjay Das, general secretary, All India Nationalised Banks Officers Federation, told Deccan Herald that the move is to “secure” the future. “We admit that people will have to take the pain for two days, but this is to secure our days in the future.”

“12 nationalised banks, all branches will be closed,” said UFBU, West Bengal convenor, Goutam Noegy. He further added, “Private banks, cooperative banks will also be closed.” Neogy alleged that amendment in banking laws will open up an avenue for privatisation of banks, and this would subsequently make deposits insecure, make loans costly, and could affect employment opportunities.

A circular sent out to member-unions by the forum, states, “... The government could not make any assurance as desired by us and hence, we need to go ahead with the strike.”

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