United Forum of Bank Retirees’ Organisations ( UFBRO ) is the
confederation of all India retiree
organisations functioning in the banking industry. It claims that it represents more than 1
lakh bank retirees of 41 banks from public and private sector. It was formed 8
years back to coordinate activities of the retiree organisations to protect
interest of bank retirees.
UFBRO has written a letter to Finance Secretary seeking his appointment, as IBA is not consulting retirees' representatives or ready to discuss retirees' issues. IBA is refusing to meet representatives of
retirees and hold any sort of consultation on the plea that they do not have
mandate from the government in this regard.
Following examples of IBA's attitude quoted in the said letter are worth noting.
(a) While introducing the pension scheme, IBA refused to give
pension option to those who took VRS between 1986 to 1995.The matter went up to
Supreme Court and with court
intervention IBA had to amend its stand in the matter and benefit had be passed
to VRS .optees.
(b) Special VRS Scheme was
introduced in banking industry during 2000/2001 as a part of manpower planning.
About 1 lakh employees opted for VRS. The retirees of this category were denied
benefit of 5 years of notional service to calculate basic pension by amending
the regulation in improper and illegal manner. In the absence of proper
mechanism to look into retirees point of view large number of writ petitions
were filed by the affected retirees in
high courts. Ultimately with the intervention of Supreme Court the benefit was given to the retirees. It is
highly regrettable that still some banks like Allahabad Bank Vijaya Bank and
associated banks of SBI have not passed on the benefit to the eligible
retirees.
(c) Under 7th Wage Settlement IBA entered into
agreement to do fundamental violation in the basic provision of pension
regulation by fixing basic pension on notiona pay instead of actual pay drawn
at the time of retirement thereby reducing basic pension from 50 percent to 41
percent for those who retired between 1998 to 2002. This was a blatant
violation and on realisation the mistake
IBA corrected it in the 8th
settlement but refusing to pay arrear from the original date of retirement. WPs
have been filed in high courts on this issue and IBA has already lost the case
in high court and it has approached supreme court .
(d) IBA had introduced
concept of 100 percent DA neutralisation to all categories of employees as well
as retirees on the basic premise that inflation hurts all equally. However it
is unfortunate that IBA did a gross injustice to the retirees who retired prior
to 2002.Since this amendment was voilative the fundamental right of equality
conferred on the citizen uner the constitution, the retirees were forced to
approach courts in the matter.
( e) In 9th wage settlement one more pension option was given to
employees as well as past retirees however the VRS optees and compulsory
retired employees were denied the pension option by inserting the word
‘superannuation” in the circular sent by IBA to banks .This resulted into
avoidable litigation in large number. Ultimately, in view of large number of
pending cases in courts the department of financial services was kind enough to
ask IBA to withdraw word ‘superannuation’ and
give pension option to left over retirees.
(f) On several occasions the regulations have been amended from
retrospective effects which is not permissible under law. IBA has also failed
to take into account the various
developments taking place in the country on pension related matters like
pension updation exercise carried out in RBI, improvement in family pension by
RBI and many special features and
benefits given to government retirees under 6th
pay commission and act in pro active
manner for the welfare of senior citizen and also hold periodical consultation
with representatives of retirees in this area.
Source - AIBRF website
Regret to see UFBRO continuing to neglet enhanced Gratuity increase from 1.1.2006 issue to retired Bankers. If Unions use discretion to filter the issues, the members get automatically filtered.
ReplyDeleteIt may be observed that NATIONALIZED BANKS are GOVT OF INDIA Undertakings. Our GENDER is not known. Neither Govt,M.Ps,MLAs,IBA, nor Unions are bothered about our demands. Since GOVT of India is a model employer,minimum wages/Enhanced Gratuity/allowances/Pension rules applicable to Central GOVT employees should be made applicable to us.
DeleteIs UFBRO an affiliate of AIBOC?
ReplyDeleteAre you recognised by bank managements/IBA
were you able to negotiate with the govt/i b a
Your claim of 1lakh membership should take the association seriously by i b a
There are other retirees group probably latest is by UFBU.
My feeling is ,if all these splinter groups join UFBU probably i b a/bank managements deny our negotiating powers.
Please note this is my personal thinking ,may others have better ideas.
A small correction in my comment of sept 9th
ReplyDeleteIT should have been "bankmanagaments/ i b a cannot deny our negotiating powers"
I understanmd there was discrepency while calculating grautuity payable to vrs 2000 ,caluculating for 28 days instead of 30 days(recokned as 1 month),thereby bank has paid lesser amount for the entire service in syndicate bank.
ReplyDeleteI also understand a case was filed and won in H/C karnataka
Is this true ?Can somebody throw light on this?
For calculation of gratuity a month is treated as 26 days and not 30 days.If 30 days is taken as a month, then employees loose substantially.
Delete