Mumbai, Feb 10: The country’s financial capital Monday woke up to a two-day long total banking sector strike that has crippled most business and commercial activities here.
All branches of public sector banks, private banks, many foreign banks in the town, and the regional rural bank branches were deserted.
According to the United Forum of Bank Unions (UBFU), that is spearheading the agitation, the strike that started Monday 6 a.m. can end Wed 6 a.m.
“The strike is total. Over a million employees in all these banks, barring the co-operative sector banks, are taking part with around 90,000 bank branches to stay shut for 2 days for our varied demands,” All India Bank staff Association (AIBEA) vice-president Vishwas Utagi told.
As several as 27 public sector banks, 18 private banks, eight foreign banks and 48 Regional Rural Banks across India have joined the strike call by the UBFU, an umbrella organisation with high bank staff and officers unions below its fold.
Utagi said that besides the pending issue of wage revisions, the UBFU is also opposing banking reforms like privatization of banks, mergers, issuing new bank licenses to company houses, rising non-performing assets and related aspects.
The UBFU includes AIBEA, National Confederation of Bank staff, Bank staff Federation of India, Indian national bank staff Federation, Indian national bank Officers Congress, National Organisation of Bank employees, All India Bank Officers Association, and National Organisation of Bank Officers.
Utagi said that the UBFU had gone on a strike Dec 18, 2013 for similar reasons.
