Andhra Bank Staff Strike On Aug 18

Staff of Andhra Bank across the country will go on a one-day nation-wide strike on August 18, to register their protest against the 'anti-business' policies of the authorities, and the shortage of manpower.

Around 15,000 staff of the bank, across its 1,550 branches, will stay away from work. The strike is being supported by the All India Andhra Bank Officers Federation (AIBOF) and the All India Andhra Bank Award Staff Union (AIBEA).

Talking to media persons in Hyderabad, AIBOF general secretary K Rama Koteshwara Rao said that the strike is a token of the bank staff's dissatisfaction over the management's anti-business policies, partial HR duties, arbitrary shifting of existing service states of the workers, and other long-pending issues.

Koteshwara Rao said, "The management has adopted certain anti-business decisions that may be detrimental to the bank's interest as well as its customers."

The AIABOF general secretary further alleged that employees were asked to work round the week, including on Sundays and other holidays, without being reimbursed for their efforts.

He also claimed that the bank management is desisting from recruiting eligible persons for vacant posts, even after the Board approved of their being filled up.

All India Andhra Bank Employees Union general secretary T Ravindranath claimed that Andhra Bank's Management resorted to several dubious HR practices, and that it altered services conditions unilaterally.

"The long-pending demand of release of wage revision arrears is yet to be fulfilled," he said.

Ravindranath said that the one-day token strike should be seen as a warning to the management. He added that if the management does not take immediate steps to address the grievances, employees would be forced to start yet another strike on September 28 and 29, or even on October 1.

Moreover, Unions have also announced plans to stage a massive demonstration ahead of the strike before Andhra Bank Head office in the city.

Courtesy: INN