SBI staff threatens strike pension is not hiked / DEc 25, Economic Times

From Indiapensions

SBI staff threatens strike pension is not hiked

NEW DELHI: State Bank of India officers and staff unions have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from mid-February next year if their demand for raising pension payment is not met.

"We will go on indefinite strike from mid-February if 50 per cent of the last salary drawn is not given as pension," All India State Bank Officers' Federation (AISBOF) general secretary Shanta Raju said.

He said the bi-partite meeting of union and management of the bank has failed to resolve the issue as government has rejected the proposal.

AISBOF and All India State Bank of India Staff Federation will give the stipulated 6-weeks notice on January first week before going on strike sometime in February.

"We expect about 2,10,000 bank employees to participate in the strike to change the 200-year-old pension system as the cost of living has gone up manifold," he said.

He said the banking major has about 75,000-85,000 pensioners which is likely to go up substantially in the next 4-5 years as a lot of employees are set to retire.

Other demands of the employees include review of commutation, family pension on par with industry level agreement, upgradation of basic pension and DA of all past retirees and enhancement of gratuity.