Banking operations were affected for the second day (Thursday) as employees of public sector banks abstained from work to protest a meagre 2% salary hike offer and a delay in resolving the Indian Banks Association’s (IBA’s) charter of demands.
Besides disruption in banking operations, there were reports of ATMs going dry. However, normal operations are likely resume from Friday after the two-day strike, called by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank unions, ends.
For the second consecutive day, the bank employees in Dimapur, Kohima and Mokokchung staged protests which concluded peacefully.
UFBU has claimed that the strike was a “total success” as the employees in all banks and in all branches “enthusiastically” participated in the strike. There are about 85,000 branches of 21 public sector banks across the country having a business share of about 70 per cent.
SBI officers’ association (NE circle) assistant general secretary, T.A.P. Paul, said that as per UFBU the bank employees could go for an indefinite strike if their demands were ignored.
“If IBA or the government cannot solve the issue at this crucial juncture we will go for indefinite strike and that will affect the whole economy and the common people will suffer,” he said.
Though the bankers did not want to make the public suffer, Paul said protest was the only way to have their voices heard.