By this time all of you must have received various circulars issued by the management up to No. 133 dt. 10/01/2007. Unlike the circulars issued by unions, which are welcomed by Centralites with love and affection, the management circulars are always circulated amongst staff members by obtaining signatures– reading is not important.
The employees and officers have lost faith in the present management. If that was not the case what was the need for calling staff meetings during office hours and pressurising staff members to attend the meeting leaving the Bank’s work aside! So far, “WORK IS WORSHIP” was the motto for Centralites, which has now changed to “WORSHIPPING AN INDIVIDUAL IS OUR ONLY WORK”. Unions do not call meetings during office hours, then why the staff is to be pressurized by management to attend the meetings during office hours? The UFCBU’s meetings held in various centres were largely attended and at Convocation Hall in Mumbai on 6th January 2007 after office hours it was attended by more than 1500 Centralites without any compulsion.
If you go through C.O. Circular dt. 29/12/2007 on Transfer Policy Amendments, you will observe that about 90% space has been utilized on advertising the needs for amendments. If amendments were beneficial or good for the institution and/or for the staff, such advertising was not necessary. Management’s circular No. 132 has mentioned that the officers who perform their duties should not have any fear in their minds over the transfer issue. Does it mean that policy will be implemented on a pick and choose method? It is also not spelt out as to who is the authority to judge such performance. What will be the norms fixed for such judgement ? Hence no one should get carried away by such false assurances of the management which are just ‘Sayings in Air’.
Banning the permission to hold Union meetings in the Bank’s Premises: In an attempt to get sympathy of staff, management has stated that “many a times such meetings have turned stormy on account of inter and intra-union rivalry where even outsiders were also allowed to participate in utter disregard.......” The management should refrain from making such imaginary statements. Let them provide any proof to Centralites in favour of this statement. Comrades, the world is moving towards transparency. The management should always keep in mind that all their actions and decisions are open for discussions and criticisms in a Democratic World! If the management wants to be “Undemocratic”, then only it will try to put a ban and such restrictions.
Restriction on Availment of Special Leave by the Union Office Bearers : This leave is available as per Industry and bank level settlements for organizational activities. The restrictions on the availment of the leave is nothing but an attempt to create hindrance in union activities. Where is the case for pre-sanctions and Centralisation of applications for availment of such leave ? If the top management is really concerned about Bank’s Development, it should have never wasted valuable time in such petty things.
Issue of notice of eviction of Union Office from Bank’s Premises: The management is totally misguiding Centralites on the issue. The unions are holding two premises in Mumbai for All India Organisations and the local units. These are duly allotted offices by the management. If the management is so particular, they should get vacated the 3rd & 4th floor of MMO Building from the clutches of outsiders.
Restrictions placed on employees leaving station: The restrictions circulated are in violation of industry level policy.
Non-Payment of Officiating Allowance: Whatever stated in the circular is contradictory to the orders issued on Non-Payment of officiating allowance. The management is pressurising all ZMs/RMs to stop officiating allowance altogether without making a study as to how the branch/counters can be managed without allowing officiating allowance in leave vacancies! Now the management is providing some explanation to staff members with the intention of seeking their sympathy. During urgency where is the time for the Branch Managers to obtain permission of the concerned Regional Manager? There are a number of branches functioning from 9.00 a.m. whereas RO/ZO opens after 10 a.m. On the top of it all, all such orders are being made effective from back-date.
Attack on Trade Union Leaders with a view to weaken the Trade Unions: Protection to Union Office Bearers is not a new thing. It is available in all banks. The issue is of so much importance that a committee was appointed by the Parliament for resolving the matter. The Committee had to deliberate for a prolonged period before submission of the Report. A prudent management would have taken a proper stand on this important issue instead of attacking Trade Union leaders. The management’s intentions to create hurdles in the functioning of the unions are very clear to Centralites.
It should be noted that the Trade Union leaders in the banking industry are very mature and experienced also. They understand their role and responsibilities very well in all situations and the changing scenario. The leaders have shown their maturity and concern altogether. But the management has continued to take provocative actions. The management has intensified its attacks on Union leaders with added vengeance.
In a meeting at SPBT College on the Founder’s Day it was mentioned that the Bank is providing “Roti, Kapada & Makan” to Centralites. The earlier management had approved 34 compassionate ground appointments. The management has deprived them “Roti, Kapada & Makan” by reversing the earlier decision. This is the difference between the “Saying & doing.”
Comrades, if the management wanted normalcy and harmonious relationship in the Bank, it would have taken steps for redressal of grievances, instead of spending huge money out of our hard-earned income in filing cases in all possible courts –to prohibit unions from holding peaceful demonstrations.
Comrades, we are living in a Democratic Country. We are proud of our Democratic values Democratic Agitation have always succeeded against undemocratic and arbitrary managements!
We once again appeal to all employees & officers that they should not yield to the threats issued by the management. Make the strike of 22nd January 2007, a 100% success.