Bank strike takes toll on financial transactions

Indore: Banking transactions across the city were affected with around 2,700 bank employees from the city observing a day-long strike here on Friday.
The strike call was given by United Forum of Bank Employees Union (UFBU). Nearly 2,000 agitating bank employees gathered at the regional office of Punjab National Bank at Sitla Mata Bazaar Branch on Friday morning and raised slogans in support of their demands.A total of 300 branches, including 19 nationalised banks, five associate banks, 14 private banks and seven foreign banks, participated in the strike. United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) gave the strike call, seeking early revision of wages of the bank employees. Madhya Pradesh Bank Employees Association chairman, MK Shukla, said, “We are here to protest against the policies adopted by State Bank of India (SBI) with respect to its five associate banks. Our aim is not to create problems for the consumers, but the employees should get their due.”
Employees of the five subsidiaries including State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad and State Bank of Patiala have been agitating for long. “The agitation is because of the continued unfair labour practises of the SBI management which is trying to force SBI service conditions on the associate banks,” said a member of the association.
Meanwhile, consumers are bearing the brunt as after Friday’s strike the banks will remain closed for two more days on account of second Saturday and Sunday on January 9-10. “Clearing bank cheques, demand drafts and other banking transactions get affected in such a scenario. At times the consumers aren’t aware about it and even the ATMs run out of cash, creating problem for the common man,” said Aditya Singh, a consumer.