IDBI claims strike failed, unions say near success

Mumbai, March 28: Even as unions of state-run IDBI Bank on Monday claimed a successful one-day strike, the management said the bank “functioned normally”.

The strike was called by two unions — United Forum of IDBI Bank Officers and Employees (UFIOE) and United Platform of IDBI Bank Unions (UPIBU) — to protest against the government plans to tur naround the heavily lossmaking bank by handing over the management to private sector.

The bank claimed that none of their services were disrupted following the nationwide strike except in the Karnataka, where the High Court has asked unions not to go on strike.

“All banking services like front-office services, back-office operations including cheque clearing, remittances, RTGS/NEFT, transaction banking services, treasury operations have been functioning normally,” IDBI Bank said in a statement.

But the unions gave a different picture.

“The strike was a grand success. All the offices and branches of the bank remained closed today,” UFIOE, which called for a one-day strike, said in a statement.

Employees and officers affiliated to UPIBU have called for a four-day strike.

“Today, almost 85% of the officers and 100% of employees were on strike. Our strike will continue for three more days,” an office bearer of UPIBU said.

PTI fe Bureau adds: The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) is planning to go on a nation-wide strike on May 25 to protest against the government’s plan to consolidate public sector banks, Vishwas Utagi, vice-president of the union, told FE.

PTI IDBI Bank employees protest against privatisation of the bank during their nationwide strike at IDBI Towers in Mumbai on Monday