Bhopal: The banking services were totally paralyzed on the second and last day of nationwide strike of nationalized and their associate banks, which came to end on Friday. The ATMs which functioned properly on the first day, went dry on Friday. Business of Rs 3 lakh crore was affected with the two days banks strike. In a response to call for nationwide strike to pay revision and compassionate ground appointment, thousands of bank employees struck banking working and Friday was the second day of strike.
Almost all ATMs succumbed to pressure as they became dry. However, bank officials claimed to ensure the availability of liquidity in ATMs. In all the branches of nationalized and associates banks which are 2688 in number in Madhya Pradesh remained locked. Employees’ Union general secretary JP Jhawer informed that in Madhya Pradesh, there was two-day strike but in other states like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan banks remained closed for three days as there was already holiday for Raksha Bandan. So people remained deprived of banking services like cheque and DD clearance etc’.
Jhawar informed that Chief Labour Commission (CLC) has convened a meeting to discuss problems of banks officials. In fact Indian Banks Associations (IBA) denied giving 30 t0 40 per cent pay hike. Earlier Bank management had agreed to give 17.5 per cent and later gradually reduced to 15 and finally management was giving 13 per cent pay hike. This attitude of IBA sparked resentment in bank employees on ground of breach of trust, he added. The agitating employees assembled at GTB complex and demonstrated in protest against alleged breach of trust committed by IBA, he informed, adding that various employees unions of financial institutes like LIC, Railways, telecommunications extended supports to us, he added.