With a list of 21 demands that include better pension, doing away with privatisation and takeovers, 10,000 govt employees in city marched to Azad Maidan yesterday As part of a daylong nationwide strike by employees of nationalised banks, over 10,000 workers in the city carried out a protest march from Bank Street to Azad Maidan. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/aug/board1.jpg" border="5" /> The nationwide strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions to urge the Union Finance Ministry to meet the 21 demands The strike, called by a representative body of bank staffers, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), was called to urge the Union Finance Ministry to meet the 21 demands laid out by the workers (see box). At the popular protest grounds, speeches were delivered as employees sat with banners asking for their demands to be met. Prakash Shilke, assistant general secretary, All India Overseas Bank Employees Union, Mumbai Circle, said, "Nine unions representing 10 lakh bank employees were on strike today. If our demands are not met, we may go on strike again." Atmaram Kondeskar, general secretary of the State Bank of India Employees Union, Mumbai Circle, said, "Today's strike was hugely successful as all banks were closed and almost all bank employees participated in the morcha. u00a0 A decision of what steps need to be taken further will be made on August 10 when the UFBU meets for a discussion." Alpana Killawalla, chief general manager, RBI's Department of Communication, said, "The strike will not cause any losses, as the money transaction that was on hold today will happen tomorrow. However, the banking system in the city was halted for a day." The salaries of bank employees are likely to be deducted, as they did not report to work yesterday. The bank strike inconvenienced a number of people who were unaware of it. D Devaih, a resident of Nerul who has a broken hand, had come to St George hospital for a check up. "I came to Andhra Bank to draw a demand draft to pay my daughter's college fee. u00a0 It was the last day and she may not be allowed to sit for classes." Like the disappointed father, many others were left helpless with the banks shut down. Amit Thakkar, a sub-broker at Angel brokers, Fort, said, "I have been roaming all over Bank Street to deposit a cheque on an urgent basis, but now I will only be able to get the money by Tuesday." UFBU's 21 demands 1. A five-day work weeku00a0 2. Stop privatisation of banksu00a0 3. Stop merger of banksu00a0 4. Stop issuing licences to industrialists and businessmen to open their own banks.u00a0 5. Stop outsourcing of recruitment.u00a0 6. Stop issuing licences to foreign banks.u00a0 7. No centralised cheque clearance system.u00a0 8. Jobs for wives or children of bank employees who die while in service.u00a0 9. Stop loans from World Bank.u00a0 10. Better car, education, house and other loans.u00a0 11. Strike down Banking Regulation Act, Section 12.u00a0 12. Revise bank timings.u00a0 13. Opposition to some suggestions made by the Khandelwal committee.u00a0 14. Better pension provisions.u00a0 15. Granting 6th Pay Commission pension to employees.u00a0 16. Disinvestment in public sector banks.u00a0 17. Stop contractual jobs in banks.u00a0 18. Against the removal of the 10 % cap of voting rights in private sector banks.u00a0 19. Control price rise.u00a0 20. No reduction of government stake in public sector banks.u00a0 21. Stop unrestricted entry of foreign capital in banking sector.u00a0u00a0

With a list of 21 demands that include better pension, doing away with privatisation and takeovers, 10,000 govt employees in city marched to Azad Maidan yesterday

Bankers' catch-21 situation

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