UNION BANK RETIRED EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION

Rajkot - 360 001  

Date :  7th March, '14

Bipartite Negotiations for revision of salary 

and service conditions of Bank Employees

SMS sent to-day by Shri C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association reads as under. "Next round of meeting with Indian Banks' Association on 14th March".  Incidentally we forward herewith a press cutting of news item appeared to-day in 'Economic Times' daily - (Ahmedabad edition). In view of what is stated therein, outcome of the next round of negotiations can be very well visualized. The Bankers will argue for different wage structure for different Banks. United Forum of Bank Unions will insist for continuing 'equal pay for equal work' the age-old system prevailing in the banking industry irrespective of whether the Banks are making profits or loss.   

Under such a situation, since I am receiving phone calls from several members of our Association as well as those of our fraternal organizations as to whether our demands for improvements in pension will be taken care of in the 10th Bipartite Agreement, I am inclined to share with them a joke, which we are often cutting among ourselves. 

The Pensioners, like toothless tigers, will have to

 wait till the relatives of the bride grooms and bride 

finish their lunch.

 Of course, when we had told this joke to a Leader of a major constituent of UFBU while meeting him in a delegation few months back, he had replied to us that improvements in pension is an important agenda of UFBU in this BP talks and they would not sign the settlement unless this demand is settled.

It means caterers will be asked to cook some more food for the beggars also.  

   

yummy...but can't chew now...

I opine, whatever improvement in pension will be there, it will be from prospective date. We should not live in a fools' paradise by dreaming for any arrears. And so far as important aspects of salary revision for serving employees are finalized, the pensioners should not trouble their leaders by making phone calls every day. 

    We should understand all these ground realities. 

    And whenever we shall get any reliable information in this regards, it will be our endeavor to convey it to you as early as feasible. 

    Yours sincerely, B.G.Raithatha, General Secretary

(Illustrations ours. -Ed.)