Public sector banks to observe strike on Feb 12

Ahmedabad: Employees across the public sector banks in Gujarat will observe strike on Thursday, Feb 12, in response to a call given by Central Trade Unions for a nationwide general strike. The unions are protesting against the implementation of four labour codes and demanded their withdrawal.In Gujarat, the strike is expected to affect the functioning of 3,678 branches of nationalised banks, with around 25,000 employees participating. Employees of Federal Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Karnataka Bank and IDBI Bank will also observe the strike. The unions stated that transactions worth around Rs 15,000 crore in the state will be affected. "As part of the agitation, bank employees will hold a demonstration on Feb 11 near UCO Bank at Ashram Road. On Feb 12, all Central Trade Unions will organise a rally at 11am from Ellisbridge (opposite Town Hall) to Nehru Bridge, which will be converted into a human chain," said Janak Rawal, general secretary, Maha Gujarat Bank Employees' Association (MGBEA). Among the immediate demands listed by the unions are the scrapping of the four labour codes and rules, strengthening of nationalised banks, adequate recruitment in banks, withdrawal of the National Pension System in favour of the Old Pension Scheme, recovery of bad loans, opposition to privatisation of public sector banks, and withdrawal of the decision allowing 100% foreign direct investment in insurance companies.