Bank surrenders to adamant employees
The employees of RBI have been drawing better pay and hefty allowances from the day one. Yet they have been demanding pay hike since last 4 years. The Indian economy has become delicate due to corona virus induced prolonged lock downs. Despite this, the employees have raised the weapon of strike. Under the circumstances stern action was expected from RBI. But instead it has adopted a conciliatory approach.
The Indian economy is beset with many economic frauds and the role of RBI officers and employees has been conducive to those swindling the state exchequer. Under the circumstances it is essential that a high level inquiry is conducted into corrupt deals of the officers and employees. Even the pay should be performance-based and RBI should take strict action against irresponsible employees.
The Human Resource Department (HRD) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stepped in to intervene in a timely manner over an agitation planned by the unions to protest against wage revision issue that was pending for nearly four years.
The United Forum of Reserve Bank officers and Employees that serves as an umbrella organization for all categories of RBI staff called off its strike proposal following a reassurance received from their HRD bosses.
The Union spokesperson informed that they decided to withdraw their agitation that was planned to commence on Tuesday after the Chief General Manager of the HRD requested for truce. He cited that the wage settlement issue was currently in an advanced stage and a resolution can be expected shortly.
The Union voiced its concern over an unresponsive management attitude that had prevailed for over four years when it came to discussing and negotiating their wage revisions. “This happened despite our repeated attempts to bring it to their attention,” the Union spokesperson disclosed.
The constituent unions of the Central Bank’s umbrella body decided to retract on their plan to agitate after receiving a written communication from the HRD on their wage revision count. The Union earlier stated that a written assurance was kept as a prerequisite for their agitation being withdrawn.
The team of union leaders who responded to the HRD intervention included Samir Ghosh, Arun Smaddar and Gavin Coelho among others. They stated that they decided to withdraw their agitation in wake of the possibility to facilitate an early settlement.
The agitation plan envisaged by the umbrella union of the RBI staff was slated to begin with lunch-time gate agitations with their staff including officers adorning black badges from November 23 to 26. It was also planned that subsequently the staff would go on mass casual leave from November 30.
The Unions also expressed their angst over the management’s failure to arrive at a decision despite repeated representations and communications to the effect, demanding a speedy settlement in their sensitive wage revision matter.
The unions also stated that their attempts to revive talks on the sensitive issue failed owing to continued ambiguity on the management’s stand. The current breakthrough in the proposed agitation mode is however, viewed as a wait and watch move by union members.
They cited that in absence of any concrete follow-up action within a reasonable timeframe, they will be forced to go on strike.
