1 million bank employees on strike in India

Banking operations were hit badly across India on Friday, as nearly one million bank employees observed strike as a mark of protest against the banking sector reforms. Operations in branches of government-run banks were badly affected and cheque clearance delayed till tomorrow, thereby giving difficulties to customers, traders and other businessmen. The striking bank employees are against the outsourcing of banking jobs and Government's attempts to impose "anti-employee recommendations" offered recently by a Committee. Besides, there are pending issues like post-retirement benefits and regulated working hours for officers. Another irritant for the striking bank employees is the Government's policy of consolidation and merger of government-run banks. Bank employees of both Government and private sector banks observed the strike. C.H. Vekatachalam, the convener of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) said: "About one million bank employees and officers working in public sector banks, old private banks, cooperative banks and regional rural banks are on strike today." UFBU is an umbrella organisation of five bank workmen unions and four officers' unions of government and private sector banks in the country.