Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 4: Under the umbrella of United Forum of Bank Unions, a call for a day’s strike has been given to bank employees and officers from all over the country, on Friday August 5.

The employees are protesting against the government’s proposed merger plans for banks, privatization, disinvestment and outsourcing of routine activities. UFBU has decided to go ahead with the strike plan, as two rounds of talks it held with the central government on Monday and Tuesday failed to make any headway. UFBU has already handed over a list of 21 demands to the labour department and Indian Banks Association.

Over ten lac employees and officers working in public sector, private sector, Grameena banks and cooperative banks are expected to take part in the strike, paralyzing the banking operations in the country. Shivaraya from Udupi and Ajay Manjrekar from Mangalore, who are district level conveners of the unions, said that a demonstration will be organized in front of the regional office of Syndicate Bank in Udupi at 10 am and in front of State Bank of India Old Port Road in the city at 9.45 am, on Friday.