Representatives of SBI employees unions walked out of the deal saying their interests were not protected. But with the United Federation of Banking Unions, the body that represented nine employees associations, signing the minutes of the meeting, the deal is said to have been clinched. Now SBI employees would have to negotiate with the management to ensure that their interests are protected.
Wage Increases and Pension Option
Wage increase
Banks (all public sector banks, some old generation private sector banks and a few foreign banks) have agreed to an aggregate annual wage increase of Rs 4,816 crore (or 17.5 per cent increase over the collective establishment cost of Rs 27,520 crore as on March-end 2007 on account of employees), said Mr K. Unnikrishnan, Deputy Chief Executive, IBA.
About seven lakh bank employees, including officers, clerical and award staff, will stand to gain due to the wage revision, said Mr Vishwas Utagi, General Secretary, All Bank of Maharashtra Employees Association.
Further, 2.72 lakh existing employees and 35,000 retired employees will benefit as another option for pension is being extended to non-pension optees.
The total liability on account of existing employees exercising the pension option is Rs 6,000 crore and that due to retired employees is Rs 3,116 crore. The gap in the pension liability will be shared between banks (70 per cent) and employees (30 per cent).
Retired employees
Retired employees (non-pension optees), who were in the service of the bank as on September 29, 1995 and March 26, 1996 and retired thereafter, choosing the pension option will be required to return the bank’s contribution to the provident fund with interest thereof received by them at the time of retirement.
Further, they have to contribute to the pension fund their share of 30 per cent of the gap in pension fund.
Existing employees (non-pension optees) can exercise the pension option by contributing to the pension fund their share of 30 per cent of the gap in pension fund.
This contribution will be recovered from the arrears payable on wage revision.
According to the agreement, a defined contributory retirement benefit scheme will be introduced for workmen/ officers joining the services of banks on or after April 1, 2010.
Though SBI employee representatives too were part of the negotiations, they were unhappy with the pension agreement as the pension scheme of other public sector banks is better, said Mr Utagi.
The IBA and the unions will finalise the joint note within three months.
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