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AIBOC calls strike on April 20

Our Bureau

CALCUTTA, March 30

THE All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) has given a call for industry-level strike on April 20 protesting against the violation of the agreement concluded between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and four bank officers' unions, particularly the non-implementation of the agreement in three banks _ Indian Bank, UCO Bank and United Bank of India.

``We have served a notice on the Chairman of IBA for countrywide strike by all bank officers in private and public sector banks on April 20,'' says Mr. S.R. Sengupta, AIBOC general secretary, in a press note. AIBOC has also requested the three other offi cers' organisations _ AIBOA, INBOC and NOBO _ to join the strike.

He pointed out that the joint note signed in December 1999 between IBA and the four officers' organisations provided for the implementation of revised salary revision in all banks including weak banks. The payment of arrears was to be rescheduled as per discussion between the management of each bank and the respective officers' association.

In a communication dated February 7, 2000, IBA informed all public sector banks that on the basis of its recommendation, the Centre had approved the payment of revised pay along with arrears payable for the period from April 1998 to January 2000 on ad ho c basis till formalities for amending officers' service regulations had been completed. On this basis, the majority banks started paying revised salaries and arrears.

However, the boards of the United Bank of India, UCO Bank and Indian Bank declined to give effect to the new pay-scales and allowances.

AIBOC, according to Mr. Sengupta, would call it a violation of the agreement because the management of these three banks had given authority to IBA to negotiate salary revision on their behalf and, therefore, were party to the settlement reached. The agr eement also received the Centre's approval.