Date:02/10/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/10/02/stories/2004100206490100.htm

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Bank strike deferred

MUMBAI, OCT. 1. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) today deferred the proposed two-day all India strike on October 5 and 6, as the Union and the Indian Bank Association (IBA) were slated to hold another meeting on Tuesday.

``We have put off our decision to go on strike as we are still negotiating with the IBA which has now offered to increase the wages by 10.88 per cent, aggregating to Rs. 1,800 crores,'' the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) joint secretary, Lalit Nagda, said here today.

The nine unions, AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, NCBES, AIBOA, INBOC, NOBOW, NOBO and BEFI, and the IBA would continue with the discussions before arriving at any decision, he said.

Meanwhile, the IBA chief executive, H.S. Sinor, said the unions have ``called off'' the strike and any deferment would mean the unions would be required to give a fresh legal notice.

``We will discuss the issues of staff mobility and technology upgradation with the unions before October 10,'' he said. — PTI