Delay in Bank Wage Revision 11th BPS
United Forum of Bank Unions' (UFBU), an umbrella of nine unions, has written to the Centre that it is urgent and important that Indian Banks Association (IBA) is advised to hold the negotiations without any further delay and start the discussions on the quantum of wage revision so that efforts can be taken to conclude the settlement at the earliest.
UFBU comprises of All India Bank Employees Association, (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Congress (INBEC), Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).
In a letter to Mr Rajeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance on Thursday, the UFBU said, "You are well aware that the period of 10th Bipartite Settlement and Officers Wage Revision came to an end by October 31 2017 and hence the revision of wages and service conditions are due in the banking sector from November 1, 2017."
It said since there is always considerable delay in arriving at the settlement earlier and avert the same, a pro-active initiative was taken by the Government (DFS, MoF) by issuing a letter to Banks and Indian Banks' Association as early as January 12, 2016 advising them to initiate the process of negotiations and conclude the same prior to November 1, 2017.
AIBEA General Secretary Ch Venkatachalam releasing the letter to UNI on Friday said, his communication has been followed up by the Government with reminder to the Banks/IBA on 24-8- 2016, 1-10- 2016, 21-12- 2016, 21-3- 2017, 22-8- 2017 and 13-12- 2017.
In view of the Government's communication, the Indian Banks'Association invited the United Forum of Bank Unions and commenced the negotiations on May 2, 2017. It was assured that the entire negotiations would be expedited in order the complete the process before November 1, 2017.
Since then number of meetings have been held in the last seven months and various non-financial issues have been discussed. So far IBA has not come out with any offer on our demand for wage revision. Despite their repeated requests to the IBA to come out with their offer on which further negotiations can be held, the IBA is dead silent on the same.
The UFBU said the last meeting of the IBA's Negotiating Committee was held on October 27, 2017 when they were assured that the IBA would hold the meeting shortly and come out with their offer but they have not heard anything from them so far. Obviously, this is creating anxieties and restlessness amongst the members.
Meanwhile, Mr Venkatachalam in a circular to all its Units and members on Friday, said even though the negotiations between IBA and UFBU have commenced in May, 2017, so far, despite several rounds of meetings wherein non-financial demands have been discussed, IBA has not come forward to discuss their financial demands.
Hence UFBU wrote to IBA on November 28, 2017 urging them to hold the meeting and make their offer on wage revision demand. However, no reply has been received from IBA and hence UFBU has now addressed a letter to the Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance seeking their intervention in the matter.
''If the issue is further delayed, we will have to decide upon agitational programmes to expedite wage revision,'' Mr Venkatachalam said.