United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has issued circular to all its constituent unions/members for observing two-day strike in the banks on March 15 and 16 in protest against the government decision to privatise Public Sector Banks. It was decided in a meeting of UFBU held at Hyderabad on Tuesday, informed All India Bank Officers’ Confederation for Chhattisgarh State Secretary Y Gopal Krishna.
He said that the UFBU had decided to launch a nationwide agitation to oppose the proposed privatisation of Public Sector Banks and other retrograde moves as announced in the Budget.
Earlier, two minutes silence was observed to condole and pay homage to all the leaders and personalities, corona victims and agitating farmers who have lost their life during the recent months.
The meeting took note of the continuing agitation by the farmers against the Farm Laws enacted by the Government expressed its solidarity with their struggle and adopted a resolution urging upon the Government to reconsider their standpoint and find amicable solutions to the demands of the farmers.
The UFBU also took note of the hurry with which the Government wants to go ahead with implementation of the new Labour Codes in which many existing labour rights have been diluted or taken away. The Unions urged upon the Government to restore all the existing hardwon rights of the workers. Discussion was held on the various announcements made in the Budget of the Central Government regarding reform measures like privatization of IDBI Bank and two Public Sector Banks, setting up of Bad Bank, disinvestment in LIC, privatization of one General Insurance Company, allowing FDI in Insurance Sector upto 74%, aggressive disinvestment and sale of public sector undertakings, etc.
The office bearers of UFBU observed that all these measures are retrograde and hence need to be protested and opposed.
After deliberations, the meeting decided that intensive struggle programmes to be launched to fight back these policies of the Government.
According to the decision taken in the meeting day long dharna will be staged in all state capitals on February 19, relay dharnas in all state/district/towns from February 20 to March 10, and finally two-day strike on March 15 and 16.
According to Convener Sanjeev K Bandlish, further strikes will be decided looking to developments. Details of other programmes of demonstration, badge wearing, postering, etc. will be issued shortly in the next circular.
UFBU was of the view that the Government’s announcement to privatise public sector banks is totally unfortunate and unwarranted. The need of the hour is to strengthen public sector banks.
