Details of discussions with IBA on 28th and 29th December, 2009

Further to the discussions held between the IBA and the Unions on 9 & 10th December, 2009 another round of bipartite discussions took place today at Mumbai between IBA and AIBEA / NCBE / BEFI / INBEF / NOBW. IBA was represented by their Core Committee headed by Mr. Jagdish Pai (ED, Canara Bank). All the 5 workmen unions were represented in the talks.

In today’s meeting, discussions continued on construction of pay scale, revision of special pay, allocation of cost of various items, cost of retirement benefits etc. From the unions’ side, we have emphasized that maximum possible cost to be allocated for construction of revised basic pay. Various suggestions and proposals were discussed in the meeting. However, the discussions have remained inconclusive since on some of the issues, the IBA team wanted to discuss the matter with the higher authorities before reacting to the unions.

It was decided to continue the discussions on the next round of talks for which dates will be fixed up shortly.

Source - AIBEA website



On 29/12/2009 , at Mumbai, the second round of the Small Committee meet was held at IBA office, World Trade Centre, Mumbai.
The Small Committee of IBA was represented by Shri Jagdish Pai, Executive Director, Canara Bank, Shri B.B.Das, Shri Rajeev Rishi, Shri R.C.Srivastava, Shri Suresh Chandra, Shri K.Unnikrishnan and Shri M.Venugopalan, AIBOA, INBOC and NOBO were represented by Shri S.Nagarajan, Shri K.K.Nair and Shri S.K.Rathod respectively.

Responding to the proposal submitted by our Four Officers’ Organizations on 10th December 2009, IBA provided a salary chart constructed on 2836 Index point merger with average 20% loading along with notes on outsourcing and pension specifying that 13% of the Basic pay of SBI officers to be kept separately undistributed which SBI will decide how to deal with the same.

In response, we impressed upon IBA the need to have higher start of pay for officers considering the large scale dissatisfaction caused in the last wage revision, tax on perquisites etc. We also stated that appropriation from the Industry level wage load to SBI on pension costing, leave encashment on retirement loaded exclusively, construction of pay scales with 11% loading with merger start at Scale I are unacceptable to the Organizations. With regard to outsourcing, we stated that we shall revert to them after discussions amongst us.

While taking note of our view points, the IBA representatives assured to revisit the areas of concern and respond to us.

Our Organizations shall strive hard to set right anomalies of the last wage revision and also ensure a fair and reasonable wage increase in this Bipartite settlement.

Source - AIBOA website

Group of resigned employees from psu banks

In recent MOU between IBA and UFBU regarding second option of pension, there is no mention of the bank employees who have resigned from the bank services after considerable length of service. As these employees had not given pension option, there was no exit route to them other than resignation. Many employees had resigned because of personal problems. There are cases of employees who had resigned after more than 20 years service. These employees would have been able to take VRS under pension regulations instead of resigning from the bank service. Even in SVRS 2000, eligibilty for pensionable service was reduced to 15 years from 20 years.
There may be other issues with these resigned employees . To address the specific issues of resigned bank employees, a group is formed on the web, which will serve as a forum for sharing and discussing their specific issues. Bank resignees can join this group by giving their email address below and then clicking on the button "subscribe".

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Eligibility for pension in case of resigned employees

To all bank employees existing as well as retirees,

First of all let us understand that it is not sin to resign from the services of organisations, government state or central, or from PSU Banks.

As corollary to natural justice. even resigned people with substantial service , say 10 years and above shall be given retirement benefits as they have spent much of their youth in the service. It is for policy makers to extend the benefits , if not full, atleast pro rata, the benefits with a human approach.

Also the central government harassed the bank employees after nationalisation of banks, with their periodical changes in the banking policies, in the name of loan melas, agricultural negelected sectors etc., etc. causing mental agony to the bank employees , even transferring them to interiors, where there are no basic amenities. the banks changed from time to time the interest rates on deposits, the interest rates on advances , thanks to so called activism of the central bank, i.e. RBI. The society at large expected a lot from the bank employees and true to their discipline, most of the bank employees rendered yeomen service to the customers at the risk of their lives, even facing naxalites threats, kidnaps etc. Even the working hours were cruelly more than the accepted international norms.

So, it is high time for us existing serving employees, the working unions of employees as well as officers, to bring pressure on the policy makers and IBA , MOF and parliament members to do justice to those resigned from the services of PSU Banks in gettiing retirement benefits at least pro rata. this goes a long way in helping the resigned employees , after all they are our brethren and deserve all the help as social security measure.
So whenever we meet our union leaders, or executives in the head offices, or officials in ministry of finance /banking deptt,, let us bring the difficulties of the resigned in not getting the retirement benefits, as it is not sin to resign on account of valid reasons.
Hope every one of us will fight for the just cause of the resigned employees.

---SSR Murthy

The above message is posted on our bankpensioner group site. Regarding discussions/ opinions on the issue of eligibility for pension in case of resigned employees please visit bankpensioner group site. Click on the link given below
http://groups.google.co.in/group/bankpensioner

Details of Discussions between UFBU and IBA on 9th and 10th December

Further to the signing of the Minutes with the IBA on 27-11-2009 on our demands for wage revision and pension option, yesterday i.e. 9-12-2009, a round of discussions took place between IBA and UFBU. IBA’s team was led by Mr. Allen Pereira, (CMD, Bank of Maharashtra) and Vice Chairman of their Negotiating Committee. From the UFBU, all the 9 constituent unions participated in the Talks.


During this meeting, the broad approach to expeditiously finalise the full settlement was discussed. It was decided that construction of new pay scales, revision of allowances, drafting of the Settlement, etc. would be taken up in subsequent meetings to be held separately with the 5 Workmen Unions and 4 Officers Associations.


It was further decided that the drafting of the settlement on wage revision and pension option be simultaneously undertaken so that both the settlements can be signed together.


Arising out of the Minutes on pension option, it was mutually clarified and understood that ‘Retirees’ would mean and include employees/officers who have retired on normal superannuation, those who have retired under VRS/Special VRS and families of the PF optees who had died during the period all of whom would be eligible for the pension option. Issues like cut off date, formula for sharing of the additional cost of pension option, etc. were taken up and would be discussed further.


Today (10-12-2009), IBA held separate meetings with the Workmen Unions and Officers Associations during which proposals for construction of pay scales, etc. were discussed. Since the construction of revised pay scales is the most important issue, the matter needs further discussions. It was decided that the discussions would be further continued in the next round of meeting for which dates would be fixed up .

Source AIBEA Website

IBA core committee will meet UFBU on 9 and 10th Dec

Core Group of the Negotiating Committee of IBA will Meet UFBU on 9th and 10th December, 2009 to start the work relating to finalize the 9th Bipartite Settlement.

Source - AIBEA website

Second option for pension

ONE MORE OPTION TO JOIN PENSION SCHEME

– A UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT:

In 1993, after bitter struggles and against all odds, AIBEA and AIBOA achieved pension scheme for bank employees. Today, once again, with the leading role of AIBEA and AIBOA, another milestone has been anchored. More than 3 lacs bank employees, officers and retirees will now get another option to join the pension scheme to insulate themselves with this unique social security benefit. It is a very commendable achievement indeed.

Dear comrades, with the signing of this Minutes, the main understandings have been reached. Now the UFBU will be taking steps to expedite the final settlement with revised pay scales, allowances and other improvements and thereafter for implementation of the same and payment of arrears to the employees.

Dear comrades, on this happy occasion, it is necessary to remind ourselves that these achievements were preceded by persistent efforts and protracted negotiations by the leadership of UFBU and backed up by the exemplary unity of the bank employees and officers and their successful participation in the strike actions. It is the result of our unity, militancy and perseverance."

Source : AIBEA (The text is as available with AIBEA website

Salient features of MOU with IBA, announced by UBFU on this day are as follows:

a) Annual wage increase of Rs. 4816 ( Rs. 2239 crores for officers and Rs. 2576 crores for workmen employees ) w.e.f. 1-11-2007.

b) All the existing employees who are now in PF scheme will be given an option to join the existing pension scheme.

c) All those who have retired after the date of Pension Regulations till date will also be given an option to join the pension scheme.

d) Full settlement on the above to be finalized within 90 days.

Retired employees (non-pension optees), who were in the service of the bank as on September 29, 1995 and March 26, 1996 and retired thereafter, choosing the pension option will be required to return the bank's contribution to the provident fund with interest thereof received by them at the time of retirement.

Further, they have to contribute to the pension fund their share of 30 per cent of the gap in pension fund.

Existing employees (non-pension optees) can exercise the pension option by contributing to the pension fund their share of 30 per cent of the gap in pension fund.

This contribution will be recovered from the arrears payable on wage revision.

Welcome to the blog for bank pensioners

Dear all bank pensioners,

This blog is for the retired psu bank pensioners for sharing their common problems. There are many issues at individual level pensioner, which can be raised here. The idea is to share and exchange of knowledge of various pension rules, court judgements for the benefit of all bank pensioners.