HYDERABAD: All India Andhra Bank Officers' Federation (AIABOF) and AllIndia Andhra Bank Award Employees' Union (AIABAEU) will organise a panIndia strike on August 18 across all Andhra Bank branches, protesting against human resources policies, management decisions and service conditions of employees.
The strike is a part of the series of agitation programmes launched on August 8 after a joint officebearers meet of both unions. The employees have decided to further intensify their agitation by withdrawal of cooperation to the management and a threeday strike from September 28.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Monday, general secretary of AIABOF K Ramakoteswara Rao said, "While advance overdues were pending for the last four to five years, the management suddenly started taking stringent measures for complete recovery. As a result, employees have been working overtime and on Sundays. But no compensation was paid for the same. Punishments are being spelt out for very small errors which has led to a masterservant relationship between the bank and employees."
Upsetting the timetested practice, the management had recently handed over operations of joint custodian of keys to branch managers instead of secondline officers. The unions are objecting to it by labelling it as an antibusiness decision. "Chargesheets for mobilization of deposits, largescale disciplinary proceedings for certain commissions/omissions, measures like explanation being sought for having credit of over Rs 50,000 in the employees' bank accounts and details of spouse' accounts
have been part of the arbitrary behaviour of the management. Most of the employees had to open accounts in other banks," said Rao.
Abrupt transfers in violation of bilateral transfer guidelines, appropriation of wage revision arrears to staff loan accounts without intimating them, vacancies not being filled, managers having to pay interest from personal account if cash retention limit is exceeded by the branch, leaves being denied, denial of promotions to award staff are other issues behind the agitation. The general Secretary of AIABAEU said, "Severe punishments and chargesheets have been issued on flimsy grounds. Employees are being treated as bonded labour."
