Date:28/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/28/stories/2005092801931900.htm

Back Rural bank staff to join tomorrow's strike

Our Bureau

Hyderabad , Sept. 27

THE Andhra Pradesh Regional Rural Banks Employees Association (APRRBEA) has announced that all its affiliate units in 16 RRBs functioning in the State will participate in the general strike on September 29 as per the call of its national body - the All India RRB Employees Association.

In a press release here on Tuesday, the APRRBEA General Secretary, Mr S. Venkateswar Reddy, said about 5,500 officers and employees of the RRBs working in 1,200 branches across the 25 districts of the State will observe the strike.

They will stage dharnas in front of head offices and district headquarters along with other trade unions.

Mr Reddy said the national body has already served a notice on the Union Government with 16 demands that include halting downsizing of workforce and lifting ban on recruitment, stopping privatisation and disinvestments of profit making public sector undertakings, including nationalised banks and taking urgent measures for revival of sick and loss making but potentially viable PSUs.

The demands of the RRB staff association also includes dropping the proposal to raise cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in banking and insurance sectors, and taking stringent measures for recovering non performing assets (NPAs), the release said.