48 hrs bank strike leaves thousands high and dry
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2018:
The 48 hours cease work strike called by United Forum of Bank Union Manipur State Committee for the Nationalised banks in the State, as a part of the Nation wide protests, has caused many inconveniences and hardships to the people in financial transactions.
On the other hand, CPI Manipur Council State Secretary Dr M Nara has said that the demand by the bank employees to increase their salaries is justified and opined that developing the trade unions will help in bringing overall development to a country or a State.
It may be mentioned that during the previous bipartite talks, United Forum of Bank Union had increased the salaries of bank employees by 15 percent.
However, instead of increasing the salaries by 15 percent in the current bipartite session, Indian Banker Association, Ministry of Finance announced that the salary will be increased by only 2 percent which led the Nationalised bank branch employees of the country to call a 48 hour cease work strike from yesterday.
As a part of the protest yesterday, employees of various Nationalised bank branches in the State organised a rally and a public meeting at Ima Khonthokhanbi Shanglen, Thangmeiband.
A similar meeting was also held at the same location today.
Speaking at the event, Dr M Nara said that the bank employees help the Government tremendously but the Government is reluctant to increase the salaries of the employees.
A mere 2 percent increase in the salaries of the bank employees is a joke, he added.
Many rich people have taken crores and crores worth of loans from the banks and many have even fled the country, Nara said and added that the bank employees are utilised indiscriminately but are paid paltry salaries.
The demand of the bank employees regarding increase of their salaries is justified, Nara added.
He continued that the price of petrol has increased by almost Rs 24 during the four years rule of the Narendra Modi Government while the price of diesel has increased by Rs 21.No one knows how much the prices will increase tomorrow, Nara said and added that the alarming price hike is also seen in various essential commodities and goods.
The value of the Indian Rupee has dropped, Nara said and accused the NDA Government of being an anti-people Government.
As a result of the protest, 42 branches of SBI, 15 branches of UBI, 13 branches of UCO Bank and various others remained closed.
The cease work strike also caused severe inconveniences for the people due to lack of cash in the ATMs of SBI and other Nationalised banks.
On the other hand, United Forum of Bank Union' Manipur State Committee convenor H Kishworjit said that the cease work strike has been carried out in the best interest of the welfare of the bank employees and apologised to the people for the inconveniences caused by the strike.