Nationalized banks to go on two-day strike starting Wednesday

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 21 Aug: All India Bank Officers Confederation [AIBOC] has called an all India strike for the next two days i.e. on 22 and 23 August. All the nationalized banks [except for the private banks] of the country will be joining the strike.
The Sikkim Regional Secretary for State Bank of India Officers Association [SBIOA], Gangtok, Tshering Dhonden Bhutia informed that the main reason for the strike is the fulfilment of demands pending with the Indian Banks Association [IBA].
The demands are to stop arbitrary guidelines on HR issues, to stop unilateral implementation of Khandelwal Committee recommendations, to stop outsourcing of bank jobs, to stop banking sector reforms, to stop closure or rural branches, proper regulation of working banks, pension schemes, new upcoming recruitment chronicle and also for the revision of pension, informed Mr Bhutia.
Mr Bhutia added that a meeting on the matter is scheduled to be held this evening and if they get a positive response then the strike shall be deferred. “Since we have not got positive response from the Government and IBA, we are forced to go on strike”, he said.
The Indian Bank Association had assured that they would organise a meeting on 31 July and give a positive response, which did not happen, Mr Bhutia added.
ATMs will also be shut during the all India strike, it was informed.