Bank strike on August 5

BANGALORE: Ten lakh bank employees and officers will observe a one-day strike on August 5 opposing the financial reforms proposed by the Union government.Speaking at the Zonal Conference of SBI Officers Association, Karnataka (Bijapur Zone) at Bijapur recently, G D Nadaf, General Secretary of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), said that their protest is directed against the government’s move to introduce new banking reforms which include reducing the equity in public sector banks and increasing foreign direct investment. They have also opposed the removal of the 10 per cent cap on voting rights, outsourcing of routine bank jobs and the issue of bank licenses to corporate Houses.The nation-wide strike will also oppose the unilateral implementation of the recommendations of the Khandelwal Committee. Further, the bankers opined that the government needs to re-introduce the compassionate appointment scheme which is in vogue in all other sectors.They also felt that the working hours should be regulated well.Their other demands include the provision of a decent pension and parity in service conditions for the staff in regional rural banks and meeting the demands of the cooperative sector and daily deposit collectors.