The strike of bank employees crippled financial services in state on Tuesday. It is estimated that transactions worth `5000 Crore were affected by the strike of the bank employees in the State. More than 15000 workers belonging to some 2200 branches of state were on a mass leave on the day in support of nationwide strike call given different bank unions.
The strike of the bank workers brought the financial services to a standstill. Barring some private banks all nationalized banks remained closed on the day. The ATM network also failed to bring some relief for the people as large number of ATMs in state capital and other parts of the state went dry. People especially traders suffered as cheques and money transfers were stalled on the day. It is worth mentioning here that banks had remained closed for two consecutive days on Saturday and Sunday. “ I had to make a DD for payment but the bank here is closed. The bank workers should adopt some other method of lodging their protest as strike harasses the general public,’’ said Naresh Kumar, a shop owner standing outside Dharmpur branch of Punjab National Bank.
The bank workers of belonging to different unions assembled at Parade ground in the morning and engaged in vehement slogan shouting against the union Government. The agitated employees than marched towards to Gandhi Park. The general Secretary of the united forum of bank unions Jagmohan Mehendiratta termed the strike a complete success. He said that seven out of total nine bank unions participated in the strike. The bank unions were also supported by different trade unions.
The bank unions are agitated on proposal of merger of banks, decreasing their rights of unions, increasing tendency of banks to outsource works and increasing Non Performing Assets (NPAs) of the banks. The unions are demanding adequate compensation for the employees for extra work in the aftermath of demonetisation decision of the union government. The bank workers are of the view that the government should increase their salary, provide tax relief to the retried employees and bring all workers under the ambit of old pension scheme.