"Asli Chehra"  -  TRUE FACE OF BANK UNIONS

Immediately after the settlement, most of the unions patted their back for the so called "historic settlement".  Slowly as they started facing volley of questions from the members, they came out with various theories to justify their action, which included the so called legal opinion and IBA's stiff attitude which forced them to agree to recovery from only PF optees to the tune of 2.8 times of the November 2007 pay.   An impression was being created by them as if they were not in favour the same till 26th April, 2010, but somehow they were cornered so much that they had to agree to the terms set by IBA.  If that would have been the case, then they would not now oppose the petition pending in Madras High Court.  That shows the double standards.

But soon the bankers will be able to see the "Asli Chehra" (i.e. True Face) of these union leaders.  These union leaders will now not be able to beat around the bush and befool the members by shedding crocodile tears.  They have to take a stand in the Madras High Court, as to whether they are in favour of payment by all employees / officers @ 1.6 times or they favour 2.8 times only from PF optees.  Some of these unions have already been exposed.  Let us see what does the market reports say as at the end of June, 2010.

It is reported that during the course of hearing of the case at Madras High Court, while opposing the interim stay granted by Madras High Court, advocates of IBA, and AIBEA and NCBE, requested for vacation of the stay.  AIBEA and NCBE were represented by one of the top most firm namely M/s Aiyar & Dolia and wanted vacation of the interim stay on recovery of 2.8 times only from PF optees to be vacated.  So the stand of these two unions are very clear now.  They will be using the members funds (including PF optees) for payment to the law firms and fighting case against them.   However, the Hon’ble Judge advised them to file their counter affidavits and Ordered continuation of the Stay Order. Next hearing has been fixed for 6^th July 2010.

Vide circular No. 98 dated 29th June, 2010. AIBOC has declared  "We are in constant touch with the IBA and the Convenor of UFBU, to initiate appropriate steps to vacate the stay, at the earliest, to enable IBA to issue necessary instructions to member Banks on the Pension offer".  Thus, AIBOC is also likely to oppose the move and appears to be in favour of payment by only PF optees". (Remember, the stay is not against the Pension offer or issuing circular by IBA, it is only against immediate recovery of 2.8 times of pay of November, 2007  from PF optees.  )

The stand of other unions will also be clear within a week, as court in its orders says ""Notice to respondents returnable by 06.07.2010.  There shall be an interim order of stay".    (all major unions are respondents in this case).  The reports indicate that NOBW may support the petition filed by Canara Bank Workers Unions.  Similarly,  BEFI  may not oppose the petition of Canara Bank Workers union.  The protest by  INBEF has already been incorporated in the affidavit filed in the Court. 

If the above reports are true, then 29^th June 2010 would be regarded as a sad day in the history of trade union movement of Banking Industry. Souls of great leaders like Parawana Ji would be feeling really sad and dejected.

Till now they have been propagating that they have been forced by the circumstances and situation to accept contributory pension scheme in banking industry. They are giving so many logics and have been pleading as to why they could not make IBA agree to the Pension Scheme in its original form of 1993.   We are unable to find any logical reason from  Unions wherein it joined hands with the union of the Management i.e. IBA to defeat the efforts of bank employees.

Duniya ke Mazdooron ek ho  -  Duniya ke mehanatkashon ek ho ka naara laagene waale  aaj majdooron ke khilaf hi Court main jaa pahunche.

TESTING TIME IS NOT FAR WAY NOW.   NOW THESE UNION LEADERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IBA DID NOT LET THEM SUFFICIENT TIME AND CORNERED THEM SO SUCH THAT THEY SIGNED THE SETTLEMENT ON 27TH APRIL, 2010.   THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME OF OVER A WEEK TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF PF OPTEES OR WANT TO DO WHAT IBA IS SAYING.

It has also been reported that some Banks have issued strict instructions for payment of arrears to all the employees / officers by 30th June, 2010 or so, after keeping 2.8 times of the pay of November, 2007 in suspense account.   This clearly gives an indication that banks are in a hurry to pay arrears so that they can deduct 2.8 times from the arrears of PF optees before orders of Madras High Court are delivered to them through IBA.  In court they will take the plea that notice of stay was not received by them and arrears have already been paid.  As Canara Bank has also rushed to pay the arrears today after keeping the 2.8 recovery in suspense, Canara Bank Workers Union is likely to give a strong protest letter on 1st July, 2010 at their Head Office. Canara Bank Workers Union has informed that they are proceeding to Bangalore to personally handover the letter along with a copy of the court order and get the acknowledgement.  

Now all the bankers have to take a final call as to whether these union leaders are with the workers or are working against them.  We know it is a difficult task as they have to eat their own words.  They have issued number of circulars justifying as to why and how they were cornered to agree this changed stand on the night of 26th and 27th April, 2010.   However, this is the time when they can correct the mistakes as PF optess have shared the burden of pension even in the last two Bipartite settlements (7th and 8th).  This information is now shared by almost everybody (which was not known earlier to 99% of the PF optees). 

The unions opposing the petition will be spending lacs of rupees in the legal battle.  All this money can be saved if they simple say that we do not oppose the petition and are in favour of the same. 

LET PF OPTEES DECLARE THAT THEY WILL QUITE THEIR UNION (WHICHEVER IT MAY BE) IF THEIR UNION  OPPOSES THE PETITION FILED BY CANARA BANK WORKERS UNION AT MADRAS HIGH COURT.    LET COURT DECIDE THE CASE ON MERITS.

(Inputs also by kamlesh.chaturvedi@yahoo.com; canara bank workers unions etc )

UPDATE  ON THE  ORDERS  ISSUED  BY  VARIOUS  HIGH COURTS AGAINST RECOVERY OF 2.8 TIMES OF NOVEMBER 2007 PAY

In order to ventilate the grievances of the employees, Writ Petitions have been filed in various Hon’ble High Courts.

(A)The First Writ Petition was filed before the Hon’ble Andhra High Court bearing number Writ Petition No. 8237 of 2010 where in Hon’ble Court has passed following orders:

 “ORDER: Interim order dated 13-04-2010, to continue, subject to final orders to be passed in this WPMP. Any settlement also, shall be subject to final orders in this WPMP.

Post after Summer Vacation, 2010.”

(B)  Writ Petition No. (C) No.3729/2010 has been filed before Hon’ble Delhi High Court, where Hon’ble Court has passed following Orders on 28.05.2010:

“Issue notice to the respondents to show cause as to why rule nisi
be not issued, returnable on 30.07.2010. Necessary steps be taken within seven
days.”

(C) Subsequently, Division Bench of Hon’ble Allahabad High Court while disposing Special Appeal No. 947 of 2010 passed following orders Orders :

“Issue notice.

Respondents are allowed three weeks time to file counter

affidavit.

List thereafter”

(D) And now recently a Writ Petition bearing no. WP 12269/2010 has been filed before Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Madras, in the matter of  Clause No. 32 of the industry level Wage Revision Settlement dated 27.04.2010 and also clause (1) of the Pension Settlement of even date, seeking a direction from the Hon’ble Court to quash the above clauses only in so far as the said clauses require the provident fund optees  now in service to contribute 2.8 times of the Nov 2007 revised pay, if they want to opt for the pension scheme.

 Hon’ble Justice K Venkataraman, who heard the matter has ordered an interim stay and the next date of hearing has been fixed on 06 July 2010.  A copy of this order is enclosed.

 From what is stated here in above, it is evidently clear that Clause 32 of Settlement dated 27.04.2010 and Clause (1) of Pension Settlement dated 27.04.2010 has become subject matter of judicial scrutiny by the Hon’ble Courts and Hon’ble Madras High Court has passed orders to stay the operation of these clauses.