This is the Time for Coup by
Bankers against Unions and Their Leaders – If You Miss This Opportunity, You
will Face Worse 11th BPS
by
Rajesh Goyal
|
We have written several articles and
exposed almost every move of the UBFU in last 30 months or so. A Number
of other bankers have also contributed towards the articles as to how UFBU had dismal low performance and almost sold the interest
of the bankers.
In case you are satisfied with the
performance of the UFBU in clinching the deal for Xth BPS you need not
read this article at all, as this article is meant only for those who
have not been happy with the performance of the leaders during Xth BPS and are
carving for changes so that next time there is improvement in the performance.
Some of the
major failures of the UFBU in so far as Xth BPS is concerned are :-
(a)
Merger of only 4440 points for DA and thus ensuring
that bankers loose the full merger of DA upto the date when the Xth was due (as
is done at the time every CPC). This will have long term effect on
salaries as new basic has been fixed at the lower level;
(b)
The
next biggest mistake was the MoD wherein it was agreed
that there will be only 15% of increase on Pay Slip component. This
was a new concept to befool bankers and IBA was successful in its
move. By exploiting the individual weaknesses of the UFBU leaders,
IBA forced them to bring down their demand of increase in salary to mere 15%
instead of 40% as demanded in the Charter of Demands. I think this
was the biggest climb down in any BPS.
(c)
Another foolish thing was to agree for mere 2% increase in Basic
Pay.
This has never happened in any BPS that there is increase of only 2% in
BP. Reports indicate that the original plan of IBA and UFBU was to
shift the rest of the increase to HRA or other components where no further DA
was payable. They were sure that gullible bankers will not be able
to understand the consequences of this clause. However, in view of our
exposures of the impact of 2% increase in BP within 48 hours of the agreement,
and later on large scale anger among the bankers, UFBU pleaded for
introduction of some component where DA is also payable. Finally,
IBA relented and agreed to introduce Special Allowance on which DA was payable,
but flatly refused to pay HRA and other allowances on this newly introduced
special allowance.
(d)
Thus,
the above steps insured that Basic Pay was kept as low as possible as other
allowances are linked to the Basic Pay. Thus, the absolute
amount of HRA allowance which is now payable as percentage of Basic Pay
only has reduced largely as HRA is not payable on
Special allowance;
(e)
The
next biggest treachery was to retiree bankers wherein
it was agreed that special pay and DA on that will NOT account AT ALL towards
superannuation benefits. Thus, the bankers who had already given
the prime 30 years of their life to bank were denied the benefits of the full
settlement. The most shocking was that the pension (after
commutation) of all the retirees (retiring between November 2012 and October
2017 has been reduced vis a vis earlier retirees). It will
have cascading effect for those who will retire after 2017.
(f)
The transport allowance was introduced but no DA is payable on the
same,
although in central government the DA is payable even on TA.
(g)
The retiree bankers were totally ignored in the 10th BPS, and UFBU
proudly signed the Record Note saying that there is no contractual relationship
between bank and the retired banker. However, later on
some leaders have agreed and pleaded with IBA to change the same as it is
illegal and judicial prouncements have already settled the issue. We have
number of cases where even the retired bankers have been dragged to Courts
even after retirement. I do not understand on what grounds
such charges were framed if the contractual relationship between retiree banker
and bank ceases on the date of retirement?
The net effect of all the above is that now the salary of the bankers
can be accounted among the lowest from any sector. However, UFBU leaders
still consider this settlement to be historical and are proudly announcing as
their great achievement.
We have written
number of articles during last 30 months – almost after each talk and
given analytical reporting and exposing how UFBU is slowly selling the
interests of the bankers.
In comments
of our articles, a huge number of bankers used to express anger and suggest
that bankers should resign from the membership of the union immediately.
However, we never suggested this at any stage during when the
talks were in progress, as we were aware that any large scale resignation or
going to Court will only stall the process of the negotiations and it will
further complicate the issues and delay the process. We were also
hopeful that some better senses will prevail upon leaders to bring some
honourable settlement.
However, now the
settlement has been finalized and arrears are on the verge of being
paid. Thus, now is the time to show their power by the Aam
Banker as Indian people (even illiterate and living in rural areas do during
election times). This will be one of most difficult
decision by the Aam Banker and needs lot of courage. Today, we
suggest all the bankers to go through the various talks and final result
obtained by the Unions in 30 months of negotiation.
If you are satisfied with the increase in salary, then you need not act and
wait for next BPS to be signed by the same leaders.
However, if
you are NOT satisfied with the above Xth BPS, this is the time to act and
doing the following :-
(a)
Give a letter to your Chief of the Salary
disabusing department that NO LEVY
should be deducted from the arrears or from future salary (It has come to our knowledge that some banks are
disbursing arrears without deducting levy as there is large scale resentment
among bankers. However, unions have shown intentions to ask for
levy from 2% to 4% from future salaries or getting direct authorization from
members. Thus, you should not get into any of the traps and refuse
to pay levy on account of poor performance of UFBU in getting an
honourable settlement.
(b)
Give a letter resigning from the union and ask Chief of
salary disbursing section to stop paying monthly subscription from July 2015;
To take an
individual decision and give a letter for above two purposes may be difficult
for some bankers because of the fear of retaliation from the
unions. Therefore, discuss with other members of the staff at the branch
or administrative department, and try to give a consolidated letter or groups
of 5 to 10 members to the Chief of the Salary disbursing
department. Ensure that it is signed by
every member who is NOT happy with the Settlement.
This will hit at the
root of the prevailing unions as their overflowing cash chests will become
empty and their power will get drastically. The reduction in membership
will affect them from representing them to the next wage talks.
Let
this situation prevail in banking industry where bankers are not affiliated to
any union for six months or so. When union membership is reduced
by 80% there be only 20% or so remain union members (who are hard core members
getting a regular cut from the subscription and levy).
Thus, in a matter of
six months a big reshuffle will take place, new unions may be formed with new
leadership. Other unions will see change in guards and old tired and
retired union leaders will be forced to be ousted. At this
stage you start to assess new leadership of the new as well as old
unions. You may not join any unions which keep
the old leaders as the helm of affairs and join those who have younger lot of
leadership.
There is still time
of over 2 1/2 years for placing the demands for XIth BPS and thus a large scale
resignation and stoppage of subscription will have no immediate effect on the
bargaining powers of the unions. However, this step will bring new
leaders and new associations. Remember that as such I am not against
unions in banking industry but I am against the present system where Aam
Banker has no say in the negotiations and they are kept in total dark about the
developments and they reduce their demands without consulting their
cadre. Although, AAP has been on hit list of
media, but initially they have adopted the concept of referendum from public on
important issues. Similarly, they could have asked for referendum
whether to go on strike or reduce our demands from 40% to say 30%.
Unions should be transparent and work in the interest of the Aam Banker.
You will have time to decide which one of those you want to join.
If you wish that next settlement should be based on CPC
recommendations, let new union leaders raise such demands etc.
However, you need to
remember that even at the end of the last BPS (IXth),
lot of bankers were interested and intended to quit from unions, but this move
remained on paper as bankers failed to unit themselves against the united front
of unions working as UFBU. A reign of terror was let loose on
those who wished to resign.
Therefore, if even
this time, everybody continues to fears from resigning than situation
will remain same.
Thus,
the need of the hour is to stand united against the UFBU, irrespective of the
union as they as a group have cheated their cadre. None of them can put blame on others as everybody has
signed the BPS. Let us put an end to the present system of
unions who are only fleecing Aam Banker. Let new leaders rise and this
can happen ONLY AND ONLY when bankers resign en mass at every
level. No Levy and No Subscription from July 2015 on wards should
be the motto now.
After resigning from
the unions, wait for some time (say six months to 1 year) and then join a new
union only after checking the credentials of the leaders.
Forget about the leftist leaders who have sold the interests of the bankers
time and again. They were afraid of going on long strike for
raising the salary but you will soon find them giving calls for number of
strikes on the issue of bank reforms, as they are more
interested in their political agenda then for service conditions and wage
revision of the bankers.
Now is the time to go for coup and throw out the present set of
unions and their old leaders, and let new unions and new leaders emerge who are
still in service. These retired leaders have neither served the interests
of the serving bankers nor protected the interests of the retired bankers.
If you fail to unite now, it will be the same situation after
five years.
Make groups of at least 5 employees each who will submit their resignations
together and the letter that no levy should be deducted from their salary.
If you fail now, then do not blame anybody else for pathetic
state of affairs of bankers. You are the person who will
responsible for this state of affairs. Choice is YOURS whether to maintain
Status Quo or make a change.
I am not sure how
many of you will resign, but if en mass resignation does not take place, it
means whatever efforts were made by us and other people, all have gone in vain
and in future their will be lesser people to guide you on the activities of the
union leaders and be prepared for worse XIth settlement. Don’t blame that we
have not given any suggestions for improving the present system of autocracy in
the bank unions.
Good luck to bankers
and enjoy whatever meager arrears are being paid now.
.
Source:http://www.allbankingsolutions.com/Wage-Revision/Xth-Bipartite-Settlement/Need-for-coup.htm