SBI strike continues for second day
by Chandrika Jain

        New Delhi: The indefinite countrywide strike called by the State Bank of India (SBI) Staff Association and Officers' Association continued for the second day on Tuesday, affecting the work of lakhs of its customers. However, no demonstration was staged by the agitating staff near any of the SBI branches following the Delhi High Court order restraining the employees from staging protests within 500 metres of any of the bank premises. According to sources, the striking employees move away from bank branches after their unions issued circulars to their members across the country to follow the court order. VK Gupta, senior vice-president, All India SBI Staff Federation, said that they have been fighting for this increase in their pension for last 14 years. "In 2003, the RBI (Reserve bank of India) had cleared our demand of enhanced pension, but response has not come yet from the government side," Gupta added. The bank unions have now shifted to Samta Sthal in New Delhi to press their demands of enhanced pension package.

     The indefinite strike began yesterday after the Central Government failed to address the pension-related demands of the employees of the SBI. The Centre had earlier a reconciliation meeting with the SBI employees, representatives of bank management and Union Finance Ministry, which failed to meet the demand of 50 per cent of last drawn salary as pension. The employees on strike have demanded for an upward revision of pension and family pension for the 2.10 lakh employees and officers of the SBI. Sources said that the last revision of pension was made in the year 1992. Staffs were then entitled to draw an amount of Rs 4, 250 in addition to admissible Dearness Allowance and other allowances. SBI handles 19 per cent depositors and 30 per cent of customers in the banking industry through its 9000 branches. It has some 200,000 staff at some 9,000 branches across the country.

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