Banking Services Hit In Telangana, AP As Employees Go On Strike

Hyderabad: Banking activities were severely impacted on Tuesday in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as about one lakh employees and officers in over 11,000 branches participated in the day-long strike to protest the government's proposed "consolidation" move and other demands.

The strike call was given by all unions under the aegis of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The UFBU decided to organise a 'March to Parliament' by one lakh employees and officers on September 15, if the government does not come out with an action plan with regard to the mounting NPAs, according All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) secretary B S Rambabu.

"About 5,000 branches in Telangana and over 6,000 in Andhra Pradesh downed their shutters as part of the day-long strike today by UFBU. Except new age private banks, all banks have participated in the strike. The clearing houses in both the states did not function today," Rambabu said. The demonstrations were taken out at all district headquarters in both the states, he said.

"UFBU has also decide to organise a March to Parliament on September 15 if the government does not come out with clear cut action plan on mounting NPAs and criminal action against loan evaders," he further said. The UFBU is an umbrella body of nine unions, including the All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW).

Besides the protest against consolidation move of the government, the other demands of bank employees include no write-off policy for non-performing assets (NPAs) of corporate loans, declaring wilful default of loans as criminal offence and implementation of recommendations of the parliamentary committee on recovery of NPAs.