Bank work hit by staff strike

Bank work remained paralysed in the region after the employees went on strike following a call given by the All India Bank Employees’ Union and the All India Bank Officers’ Association. They were protesting the proposed merger of State Bank of Indore into the State Bank of India.

Naresh Arora,central committee member of the State Bank of Patiala Employees’ Union (Punjab),“We are also opposing the decision of the government to merge various public sector banks and form corporations.”

Arora added,“The Centre has adopted a discriminatory attitude towards banks,which the unions will not tolerate. We have tried to talk to the government on the issue,but have failed. In case the government does not change its stand,we will further intensify our stir.” In Moga,various local units of bank employees’ associations held protest rallies to show solidarity with their central bodies.