New Delhi: Employees of several state-owned banks including the State Bank of India (SBI) will go on a two-day strike starting today. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which is an umbrella body of 9 bank unions has called a two-day bank strike starting today to protest the government’s decision to privatise several banks in the country.
The SBI had urged its staff members to reconsider their decision and refrain from participating in strike.
The bank unions have been protesting ever since the Centre in its Budget 2021-22 announced privatisation of two public sector banks.
The employees had started a protest campaign ‘Bank Bachao, Desh Bachao’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on December 1.
State Bank of India (SBI) had already warned customers about the nationwide strike’s possible impact on banking operations.
“We have been advised by the lndian Banks’ Association (lBA) that United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has served a Notice of Strike, informing that the members of the constituent Unions of UFBU viz. AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF and INBOC propose to go on a nationwide Bank Strike on 16th & 17th December, 2021 in support of their demands. We advise that while the Bank has made necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices on the days of strike, it is likely that work in our Bank may be impacted by the strike,” SBI said in an exchange filing earlier.
The government has decided to introduce the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. The bill aims to privatise public sector banks.
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