Bank employees to defy govt, set to strike with trade unions

The government has again appealed to the bank employees not to join the two-day nationwide strike from Wednesday saying there is "really no reason" for them to go ahead with it, but according to reports, they are likely to remain defiant.

The government, in a statement today, said that it is disappointed to note that a section of the bank employees have decided to join the strike called by certain trade unions on February 20 and 21.

"So far as bank employees are concerned, there is really no reason at all to join the strike."

"None of the main points contained in the charter of demands has any connection with the bank employees," it said while making a fresh appeal to them not to join the strike.

The statement has been issued by the Finance Ministry.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already made an appeal to the trade unions not to go on strike. Government has also set-up a Group of Ministers to talk to the Union leaders.

Banks provide employment to a large number of people and continue to recruit every year and the employees have social security cover, it said.

Also, it said, bank employees hold regular jobs which carry attractive scales of pay and also receive bonus, provident fund and gratuity in accordance with applicable laws. Public sector bank employees are also entitled to pension.

"In view of the above, the Government would once again appeal to the bank employees not to join the strike on February 20-21, 2013," it said.

Meanwhile, eleven Central trade unions remained stuck to their strike call after talks with senior ministers convened at the instance of the Prime Minister failed yesterday.

The 10 demands of the unions mainly related to checking of price rise, generation of employment, halting of disinvestment in public sector enterprises and implementation of labour laws.

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