"All our units and members are aware that secretly and surreptitiously the managements of SBI and State Bank of Indore got a resolution adopted in the Board meeting on 19.6.2009 for closure of State Bank of Indore & merging it with SBI. This provocative move was answered by an All India Strike on 22.6.2009 by our units in State Bank of Indore.
Further, a joint call for All India Strike on 6.7.2009 was given by AIBEA AIBOA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF & INBOC to protest against the unwarranted proposal.
Consequently, a conciliation meeting was held by the Dy. Chief Labour Commissioner, Ministry of Labour, Government of India, at Delhi on 3.7.2009. The management of SBI & State Bank of Indore participated in the meeting.
The strike was deferred by the unions on the basis of the advice given by the Dy. CLC, the commitment by the management and the minutes signed by the parties as under :
Excerpts of Minutes dt. 3.7.2009 before Dy. Chief Labour Commissioner
1. The management was further advised not to pursue RBI and Government on the issue of merger in the meantime.
2. Management is also advised not to take any action that may vitiate the cordial relations.
3. Representatives of SBI and State Bank of Indore agreed to invite the Union/Association for discussion on the issue of merger to find an acceptable solution.
4. Unions/Associations have agreed to defer the strike of 6th July.
But recently on 31.10.2009, the management of State Bank of Indore, over looking the minutes signed before the Dy. CLC and their commitment given during the conciliation meeting has approved a scheme for Acquisition of the Bank by SBI. In the proposed scheme, all anti-employee/union provisions have been incorporated which will leave the service conditions of the employees at the mercy of the SBI management.
Further, it is observed that the government and SBI management are attempting to utilize Section 35 of the SBI Act to acquire any public sector bank in their agenda of consolidation. RBI, on the other hand, is proposing to get banking sector exempted from the provisions of Competition Act, 2002 to facilitate amalgamation of banks.
Comrades, a serious situation is developing before us. The SBI management does not care for legal provisions and their own commitment before the Labour Ministry officials. They do not care for the advice of the Labour Ministry. The Government is also trying to bless these moves as it is their own agenda too.
Hence, it is necessary for us to raise a movement against these attempts. It is necessary that we protest and fight. Hence, AIBEA and AIBOA have decided to undertake the following agitational programmes :
23.11.2009 : Demonstrations before Branches of Associate Banks by all bank employees.
25.11.2009 : a) Joint Dharna before Head Offices of all Associate Banks i.e. in Indore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patiala, Jaipur & Thiruvananthapuram.
b) Dharna in State Capitals in other States.
3.12.2009 : Morcha to Parliament.
10.12.2009 : Badge Wearing
16.12.2009 : ALL INDIA STRIKE BY AIBEA & AIBOA IN ALL BANKS.
Note : Co-operatives & RRBs are exempted from this strike.
DEMANDS
Do not violate advice of Labour Ministry
Do not go back on commitments before Dy. CLC.
DO NOT CLOSE DOWN STATE BANK OF INDORE
DO NOT CLOSE DOWN ANY ASSOCIATE BANK
Stop proposals of consolidation of Public Sector Banks.
Comrades, we call upon all our units and members to appreciate the gravity of the situation and respond effectively and make the agitational programme and strike action a total success."
(Quoted text is as per the appeal of AIBEA)
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