NBSU urges FM to grant relief to their grievances

Members of the National Bank Service Union (NBSU) held a discussion with the Coordinating Secretary of Minister of Finance Thusitha Halloluwa at the Finance ministry premises recently to restore the pension rights of the bank employees who were deprived in 1996.

Union representatives urged that when vacancies occur within the state bank, the qualified children of bank employees should be given an opportunity to join the bank without facing the competitive examination. A request was made to the Finance Minister to launch a membership drive to accommodate the newly recruited bank employees during this “Yahapalana” government. They urged the National Lotteries Board sponsor the seminars which were conducted to encourage students of Grade Five scholarship examination under “Nena Manasa” programme. Finally they requested, the Finance Minister to intervene on a sympathetic ground to allow the state employees who were vitimised politically to join respective services. Already the Cabinet of Ministers have given their approval to proceed with the request. However the Chairmen and Board of Directors of the respective state bank yet to implement the directives of the cabinet decision. Bank Services Union requested the Coordinating Secretary to submit a report of the meeting to Minister of Finance Mangala Samaraweera to get his approval.

Assistant Secretary (Labour Relations) S.J.M. Wijesuriya of Ministry of Finance, Vice President of Government Service National Trade Union Federation D.d.tilakaratne, President of National Bank Service Union of National Savings Bank Branch Themiya Jayasuriya, Secretary of National Bank Service Union branch of People’s Bank Asela Fernando, Treasurer of National Bank Service Union Branch of Bank of Ceylon T.M. Wijesiri, Organiser of National Bank Service Union Branch of State Mortgage and Investment Bank Ravi De Silva including the Committee Members of the Union participated at this meeting.