OUR DEMAND FOR WAGE REVISION AND PENSION OPTION
We had informed our units and members that further to the last round of Talks with IBA held on 21-2-2009, in terms of the decision taken in our UFBU meeting held thereafter, a Delegation of UFBU met Mr. Narayanaswamy, Chairman of IBA at Chennai on 23-2-2009 and submitted a memorandum on our above demands and seeking expeditious resolution without any pre-condtion.


Further to this, on 26-2-2009 we met Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State for Labour and impressed upon him to intervene in the matter so that industrial unrest is avoided in the banking sector. He assured to look into the matter.

Today (27-2-2009), we met Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister and submitted our memorandum to him. We explained to him that in terms of the MOU signed between the IBA and UFBU dt. 25-2-2008, while discussions have taken place on our demand, the approach of the IBA in insisting upon an unknown new pension scheme for the future employees is unfair. We further informed him that UFBU is ready to discuss the issue with an open mind upon receiving the IBA’s proposed new pension scheme and that this should not be made a pre-condition for finalising our present demand for pension option and wage revision. We also submitted that the delay in the settlement of our demands is causing anxiety and restlessness amongst the membership. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee listened to our demands patiently and assured to examine the same and advise IBA suitably in the matter.

In both these meetings Members of Parliament Com. Gurudas Dasgupta, General Secretary AITUC (who arranged for these meetings) and Com. Tapan Sen, Secretary, CITU were present and they also requested the Labour Minister and Finance Minister to settle the matter amicably.

Comrades, UFBU is quite aware of the anxieties of the rank and file and we assure that all necessary steps are being taken to find amicable and satisfactory resolution of our demands.

Further developments in the matter will be informed to units in due course.