PSB merger fallout: Bankers stage dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding roll back

New Delhi: Today, two bank unions have called for a 24-hour pan India strike disrupting banking services. The strike is called by All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). The unions are protesting against recent bank mergers, falling deposit rates and job security in the banking sector.

Bank officers and clerical employees from all over the country will gather in the national capital to protest against the recently announced merger citing large-scale layoffs. They raised slogan against the decision and said we will not allow government to take decisions like dictator.

In the absence of any positive outcome in the meeting called by Chief Labour Commissioner, it has been decided to go ahead with the strike, AIBEA Vice President J P Sharma said.

The meeting held before Chief Labour Commissioner between representatives of Indian Banks’ Association and unions failed to reach a common ground.

“Hence our call for strike stands. We exhort all our unions and members all over the country to go ahead with the strike,” he said

Bank of Maharashtra, Syndicate Bank, Bank of Baroda have already said their operations could be hit due to the strike. While the participation of SBI bank employees in strike is very few, so the impact of strike on SBI seemed minimal.