Strike hits banking services

Tirupati: The nationwide bank employees strike hit banking operations in Chittoor district on Wednesday. Responding to the call given by the bank employees unions, the employees decided to observe two-day strike on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sources said that about Rs 1,000 crore banking operations, which is high due to month end in which the salaries and pensions are disbursed through the banks, came to a standstill in the district.

The employees working in various banks in the pilgrim city have staged a dharna before SBI main branch opposite to Municipal Corporation office here. Addressing the gathering, Bank Employees Coordinating Committee city general secretary J Danvantar Kumar squarely blamed the Indian Banks Association (IBA) adamant attitude for the strike.

The employees have been seeking 15 per cent pay hike but the IBA offered only 2 per cent hike which is not at all reasonable in view of the increase in the cost of living due to steep price rise, he said, adding that the IBA in the meeting convened by Central Labour Commissioner to sort out the employees issue amicably, also refused to give any assurance on pay hike as demanded by the employees forcing them to go on two-day strike from today.

In 2012 agreement, the IBA had agreed for 15 per cent pay hike which was implemented. As the agreement term expired in October last year, the employees demanding a fresh agreement on the pay increase with a minimum of 15 per cent pay hike which the IBA rejected. Leader of national trade unions including CITU and AITUC also joined in the protest to express their solidarity to bank employees strike.