August 07, 2009

Banking activity in the country came to a standstill on Thursday, when about nine lakh employees began a two-day strike.C.H. Venkatachalam, convener of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella of nine trade unions in the banking industry, said most bank branches were closed because even officers “joined the strike in large numbers” and employee turnout at protest rallies was “very good, which reflected their anger against the stance of the managements.”

Mr. Venkatachalam said about 7.5 lakh employees from public sector banks and 1.5 lakh employees of old-generation private and foreign banks participated in the strike. He said the Chief Labour Commissioner invited the UFBU for a “conciliatory meeting” in New Delhi on Friday.