HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS AND WARMEST GREETINGS to all Bankmen for making the TWO DAY ALL INDIA BANK STRIKE ON 10TH & 11TH FEBRUARY 2014 a resounding success. As per reports through our organizational channels, the Banking Industry throughout the country came to a grinding halt for two consecutive days because of the Strike by around one million Bankmen at the call of UFBU. Clearing Houses having gone out of operation, the share market as also the forex market were also seriously affected. All India Insurance Employees’ Association, All India Nabard Employees Association, All India Nabard Officers Association, All India Reserve Bank Employees’ Association and many other Employees’ organizations/federations, Central Trade Unions as also Unions from abroad have expressed solidarity in our support. Our sincere thanks to them all. We also thank the banking public who have, despite inconveniences, stood by us.
We hope that the Central Government would respect the unanimous disapproval, by one million Bankmen, of the neo-liberal reforms of the Banking Sector. We also hope that the IBA would get up from its slumber and take serious initiative for meaningful negotiation for early settlement on revision of wage structure and other service conditions. We cannot, however, remain complacent or harbour any illusion. Close on the heels of the successful strike on 10th instant, IBA has deferred the Bipartite Talks scheduled on 13th instant; while the Union Finance Minister has, only days back, assured the corporate that the UPA, if and when voted to power for the next term, would pursue the Reforms of the Financial Sector with renewed speed.
Be that as it may, we have been fighting the neo-liberal reforms sinceimage early 1990s; we are committed to carry on this fight unabated, with more vigour, determination and courage, in the days ahead, irrespective of the government formation post the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
