VISAKHAPATNAM: Bank employees and officers will go on a day's strike on Friday in response to the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella organisation of five workers' unions and four officers' organisations representing the total work force in the banking industry, according S.N. Sahu, convener of UFBU Visakhapatnam Chapter.

The issues on which the strike is called are: introduction of second option on pension scheme while rejecting the scheme proposed by the Government; implementing compassionate appointment scheme according to the discussions between Indian Bankers' Association and UFBU; commencement of recruitment to fill the acute shortage of employees and officers; opposing any steps for merger or acquisition in the public sector and any dilution of voting rights as proposed in the amendments to the Banking Regulations Act and seeking a halt to "attacks on trade union rights."

Around 3,000 employees and officers belonging to various public and private sector banks would hold a demonstration before the SBH at LIC Building, Mr. Sahu said.

CPI(M) support

While extending support to the strike, the CPI(M) deplored the moves for outsourcing work in 1,100 clearing houses run by one lakh employees and described it as a conspiracy to further downsize banks.

The move of the UPA Government to merge banks thereby giving access to multinationals would take banking away from rural and common people, the party city secretary K. Lokanadham said.

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