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Bank unions have reiterated their all-India strike call on January 12, after holding talks with the Indian Banks Association today in Bombay.

The unions say that the IBA has stuck to its earlier offer of eight per cent overall prospective wageload coupled with threats of retrenchment, voluntary retirement service, wage-freeze and postponement of wage negotations by further four months.

The unions have rejected the IBA's offer while demanding a negotiated settlement.

The IBA forcefully brought out the need for workmen staff to preserve the credibility of the banking system in India and credibility of its solvency as a whole. As the management would have no option but to stand up to preserve the system, it appealed to the officers and the staff to reconsider their stand again and requested them not to proceed on strike keeping in view the above ground realities.

"If they still wish to do so then they are doing so in spite of our repeated pleas to avoid a strike," the IBA said in a statement. It also requested the staff not to weaken the banking system or aggravate the vulnerability of the system.

The IBA suggested postponement of negotiations for another four months when the working results of all the banks for 1998-99 would become available which would make it apparent why pay packet beyond eight per cent would be considered unviable.

It was also clarified that the question of payment of wages retrospectively from October 1997 is no longer possible.

Further, the IBA agreed to offer to pay with effect from today if the offer to negotiate after the results of 1998-99 are accepted. The IBA also was prepared for an open live debate on TV with questions from the public because the staff and the IBA are equally accountable to public whose deposit money is held in trust.

Having regard and respect for the demand of the unions and the associations, the IBA asked them as to from where the money will be forthcoming to pay the difference between the IBA offer and what is being demanded.

To this singular question, the staff unions and officers had no answer. The IBA reiterated that it is high time the staff realised that the balance sheet is the ultimate master of meeting the demands of the staff.

The IBA pleaded forcefully that the unions and the associations to reconsider ground realities and resist from going on strike in the interest of public and the inconvenience caused to them.

UNI

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