Another round of bipartite talks between IBA and 5 workmen Unions viz. AIBEA, NCBE, BEFI, INBEF & NOBW took place today in Mumbai. In today’s meeting, we further discussed about construction of revised pay scales, rates of annual increment, ...

rationalisation of special pay in clerical and substaff cadre etc. There was also discussion on the proposal to club HRA and CCA to ensure equitable increase in the allowance in all areas with special emphasis on the rural and semi urban centres. Then we took up for discussion the costing of pension and submitted our view points. We also took up improvement in other allowances like Washing Allowance, Cycle Allowance, Project Area, Compensatory Allowance, Split Duty Allowance, Hill & Fuel Allowance, Halting Allowance, Breakage Allowance etc besides improvement in distance entitlement under LFC, family definition to include dependent brothers / sisters who are physically handicapped, revision in income amount to determine dependent parents, non–insisting of four days leave while availing LFC encashment, improvement in road mileage rate, sanction of 45 days special leave for women employees undergoing hysterectomy operation, upgradation of lumpsum paid part time employees to scale wages, improvement in hospitalization reimbursement scheme, inclusion of Sidha treatment for reimbursement, etc. etc. There were also some discussions on revision of duties for Single Window Operators, Head Cashiers and Special Assistants.

The calculations on cost impact of the above will be done and worked out for the purpose of finalizing the various items and components. The next round of Bipartite talks will be held on 9th February, 2010.

In today’s meeting we were informed that Punjab and Sind Bank management have also given their mandate to IBA for being governed by the proposed wage revision agreement and thus all the banks are now covered.

Earlier, at the beginning of the talks, homage was paid to the veteran leader Com. Jyoti Basu and Mr. Mohan Rao, Chief General Manager Corporation Bank and member of Negotiating Committee of IBA who had died recently by observing two minutes silence.