Further to the last round of talks held on 28.12.2009, another round of Bipartite talks took place today (05.01.2010) in Mumbai between IBA and 5 Workmen Unions viz. AIBEA / NCBE / BEFI / INBEF / NOBW. IBA team was led by Mr. Jagdish Pai (ED, Canara Bank) and from our side all unions were represented.

In today’s discussions we continued the talks and worked on tentative proposals with higher loading than what was discussed in the last meeting. Attempts are being made to achieve maximum of basic pay as is possible and feasible, having regard to its consequent impact on retirement benefits viz. PF, Gratuity and Pension. As regards improvements in duties of special assistant, head cashiers and CTO with passing power / single window operator, we proposed that we can discuss the issue subject to commensurate increase in the allowance, to which IBA had an open mind. Rationalisation of special pay, extending single window operator allowance to all clerical staff, possibility of merging this special pay with basic pay etc were discussed but not yet finalised. We also discussed the proposal for clubbing HRA & CCA and reducing the HRA area / category from 4 to 3 to extend some more HRA in places with lesser population. It has been decided that after mutually working out the above proposals, further items will be taken up. It was also decided that simultaneously we shall also take up the process of drafting the settlement on wage revision / pension option.

Next round of meeting will be fixed up shortly to take the discussions forward and to expedite the settlement.