GBEA plans two-day strike to oppose bank merger today

Team Herald
VASCO: Opposing the decision to close down five associate banks and merge them with state Bank of India, the Goa Bank Employees Association, have decided to go on a two-day strike from July 12 and to hold a dharna at Azad Maidan in Panjim on July 13.
According to the General Secretary of GBEA, A M Pereira, on May 27, the Union Cabinet had granted its approval to the proposal of SBI to close down 5 of its Associate banks and then merge them with SBI, following the proposal that was passed in the Board meeting of these banks without debate and discussion on the agenda which was tabled last minute prior to the closer of board meeting. “No discussion was allowed in the board meeting even there was dissention from the employees directors and the agenda was declared adopted. Thereafter, the SBI in its board meeting on the same day again adopted similar procedures and adopted the proposal to take over these banks assets and liabilities on selective manner,” he said.
and further added that “with the associate banks are functioning independently for last more than 60 years, catering to needs of all sectors then why these merger and to benefit whom. GBEA feels that the decision is unwarranted and highly condemnable as such merger would lead to ideological and cultural issues that don’t have solutions” he told.
Pereira further mentioned that “As such decision would be anti bank employees, the All India Employees Association (AIBEA) and All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) have called for nationwide two-day strike on July 12 to draw public all political parties’ attention. On July 12, the strike would be in the five associate banks, including State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala and State Bank of Travancore. On July 13 2016, the strike will be observed in all public sector banks and in order to highlight the issue, bank employees will hold dharna at Azad Maidan, Panjim on July 13.