Bank staff to strike work today

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 20. Nearly 13 lakh bank employees all over the country will go on a one-day nation wide strike tomorrow to protest against the proposed privatisation of the public sector banks. The employees of the Reserve Bank of India will also be participating in the strike called by the United Forum of Bank Union, an umbrella organisation of nine major federations and unions of bank employees.

According to the Delhi convener of the UFBU, Mr. V. K. Gupta, the bank employees throughout the country will bring banking operations to a grinding halt while observing strike tomorrow against the Government decision to privatise public sector banks by diluting Government stake upto 33 per cent from 51 per cent now.

The strike call is being supported by various organisations including the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), trade union wing of the BJP, and the All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (AIRBEA). Private bank employees will also join the strike.

The UFBU has called the strike to protest against introduction in Parliament of the Banking Companies (Amendment) Bill seeking to reduce government stake in public sector banks upto 33 per cent. The introduction of the Bill was unsuccessfully resisted by the opposition parties in the Lok Sabha. The future course of the agitation would be decided by the UFBU after the strike tomorrow on the basis of the progress of the Bill during its consideration by the Parliament.

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Section  : National
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