Latest Bipartite Settlement News - IBA agreed to form three sub-committees and discussions start

 


Today's meeting with IBA under chairmanship of Sri Rajneesh Karnatak Ji, UFBU discussed Charter of Demands for 12th Bipartite Settlement. UFBU discussed all points which was submitted earlier to IBA. 

IBA and management listened all points positively.

 

They agreed to form three sub-committees to expedite settlement and try to finish it by Dec 23.

 

From IBA side Sri Gopal Murali Bhagat Ji, Sri Brajeshwar Sharma Ji and from Management side CGM HR of Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Bank of India, and GM HR of Bank of Maharashtra, UCO Bank were present. 




Share:

Latest Bipartite Settlement News-Today's UFBU Meeting with IBA


Today bipartite talks for next wage revision settlement formally began between iba and ufbu. Iba has formed the main Negotiating committee as well as Sub committees to discuss our demands. Discussion on our demands will continue from the next round of talks.

Today we have signed the minutes for extending 100% DA for pre Nov 2002 pensioners and family pensioners . Detailed circular follows. 







More News will be update soon...

Share:

Latest Bipartite Settlement News - Finmin asks IBA to finalise wage revision of bankers of PSU banks by December 1


The government has asked the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) to initiate the process of negotiations for the 12th Bi-partite settlement in a time-bound manner and to finalise it by December 1, 2023, said a senior official.


The wage revision for employees and officers of the public sector banks is due from November 1, 2022.


The early wage revision would help improve working conditions and incentivise the banking sector employees, the official said.


Further, the official said, the finance ministry has asked IBA to ensure that all future wage negotiations should be finalised before the beginning of the subsequent period so that the wage revision could be implemented from the due date itself.


As a part of the settlement, the IBA is expected to engage in dialogues with the employees' Unions/ Associations and work out to arrive at a mutually agreeable wage settlement.


The government has stressed the importance of fairness and equity in the revision, ensuring that the compensation structure remains competitive with other players in the banking industry, the official said.


"Wage settlement for banks has always been a tedious and time-consuming process with bank managements, represented by IBA, and employees' unions engaging in tough negotiations. Historically, delays of 2-3 years in wage settlement have led to a substantial accumulation of arrears, which are eventually disbursed in a lump-sum.


"This contrasts with the more sustainable approach of integrating the revised wages into the regular monthly salaries," said the official.


Highlighting that the banking sector is the backbone of the Indian economy, the official said it is incumbent upon the management of banks to ensure that employees are adequately compensated and it is necessary for the health and stability of the entire economy as well.


It also comes at a time when the financials of the Public Sector Banks are healthy with the net profits almost tripled to Rs 1.04 lakh crore in FY'23 as compared to Rs Rs 36,270 crore earned in FY'14.


At the same time, the Return on Assets (ROA) in PSBs rose from 0.51 per cent in FY'14 to 0.78 per cent, while Net Interest Margin (NIM) has also increased from 2.73 per cent to 3.23 per cent in FY'23.


Wage settlement talks normally benefit employees of public sector banks, old generation private banks and some foreign banks.


In the previous agreement, 12 state-owned banks, 10 old-generation private sector banks and seven foreign banks signed up. New-generation private banks like HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are not part of these settlement talks.


The last 11th Bipartite Wage Negotiations concluded after three years of negotiations in 2020 agreed for 15 per cent pay revision for PSBs employees.


Almost 3.79 lakh officers and close to 5 lakh bank employees of PSBs, old-generation private banks and foreign were covered under the wage hike due from November 1, 2017.


Share:

IBA has Given Approval For Payment of 11th BPS Arrears & Salary To PSBs

Indian Banks' Association (IBA) has given its approval to the management of the Public Sector Banks to make payment to their employees as per the settlement terms of 11th BPS, which was signed on 11th Nov 2020. The permission letter also permitted to pay the enhancement if any in perk or benefits or differences.




Share:

Minutes of Discussion between IBA &Workmen Unions on 10th Dec

Discussion between IBA &Workmen Unions 

A discussion between the Negotiating Committee of IBA and Workmen Unions (except BEFI) took place today in Mumbai. The meeting was held to discuss residual issues of Common Charter of Demand.  A supplementary minutes of today’s discussions is also available in social media.

We  observe from the minutes that two of the sensitive issues, among others, centring round which we took stand not to sign the MoU on 22nd July 2020, have been placed at the top of list for discussion. These are 5 day week and updation of pension. We feel that these issues should have been discussed with due importance and finalised while inking 11th BPS.

So far 5 day week is concerned, on the day of MoU, from BEFI we sought IBA's view on this. The negotiating committee remained silent on that day. The then Chairman of IBA told in an earlier meeting that IBA is not in favour of 5 day week as bank employees of our country are already enjoying more leaves comparing with other countries of the world. The stand of IBA seems to be unchanged as they reiterated their view unambiguously in today’s meeting also. We understand that so long IBA doesn’t change their stand on this matter, the issue is not likely to be referred to other stake holders.

In regard to periodical updation of pension on the occasions of wage revision and updation of pension for existing pensioners, the IBA is maintaining their self contradictory position. It is mentioned in the Minutes as comments/response of IBA that the current details of the Pension Fund in various Banks are being collected and based on these details, actuarial working also needs to be done. The IBA, all along the negotiation process, had been claiming that updation of pension require huge amount of money. When details of Pension Fund of all banks are not available with IBA, how they calculated fund requirement we wonder. Moreover, details of Pension Funds of most of the banks are available to different retiree organizations obtained through Right to Information which were duly forwarded to IBA. It is IBA who are finding difficulties to get the details from their member banks which are undergoing audit every year. 

Secondly, the IBA during negotiation proposed for ad hoc increase and that too in phases starting with the earlier pensioners. The idea of truncated revision of pension has been reiterated in today’s Minutes wherein it is mentioned that, IBA is quite sympathetic to the issue, especially revision in pension for those who have retired under earlier Settlement periods when the emoluments were relatively lesser than at present. While we also feel that the amount of pension of the employees/officers retired during earlier settlements are very low but this idea has been mooted to create  division among the pensioners which  should not be allowed. Our struggle must continue for updation for all as had been done recently in RBI and no ad hoc increase, the pension is to be revised in RBI pattern.

Comrades, we must not lose our focus on other important issues. Along with 5 day week and updation/revision of pension in RBI pattern, our endeavour should remain for scrapping of NPS and extension of defined benefit pension scheme to all. 

We are going to lodge our strong protest against engagement of Apprentices in large scale by SBI, which has also declared a VRS scheme targeting as many as 30000 employees/officers. The banks are recruiting inadequate number of employees; more and more routine jobs are being outsourced. We seriously consider that need of the hour is sustained joint movement in the industry under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). We shall take necessary initiative in that direction.








Share:

IBA Confirms AIBEA - 11th BPS Arrears Payment Will Be Made in Dec 2020

 IBA has confirmed to AIBEA that the permission for making payment of arrears along with revised salary as per 11th Bipartite Wage Settlement was pending with Government and almost finalized.

The promise for making the revised salary payment was made in meeting between IBA and AIBEA on 10th Dec 2020.


Detailed Circular :-



Share:

Bank officers' unions blame IBA for derailing wage negotiation process


Four bank officers' unions led by All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) on Sunday blamed the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) for derailing finalisation of the wage revision process for over four lakh bank officers under the recent wage settlement announced in July this year.

The other three officers' unions are All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC), and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO). After three years of intense negotiations, bank employees' unions and IBA, on July 22, agreed for an annual wage hike of 15 per cent, which would be applicable from November 1, 2017.

All the parties were required to finalise the wage settlement within a period of ninety days from July 22, 2020. "On October 17 abruptly without any rhyme or reason, IBA informed their inability to conclude and ink the joint note pertaining to officers' wage revision with effect from November 1, 2017. The lame reason cited by them was not signing the costing exercise with the workmen unions," AIBOC said in the release.

The IBA could not be reached for a response. AIBOC in a release said representatives of bank officers' unions and the IBA met on August 24th, September 10th and October 12th to conclude the wage revision process for bank officers. Both the parties again met on October 15th and 16th to finalise the wage revision process, the release added. It was mutually agreed that the signing ceremony would be held on October 18, it further said.

Following the delay in finalising the wage revision process, the four bank officers' unions have asked their members for withdrawing extra cooperation to the banks management, restricting work up to 6 pm, avoiding official work on Sundays and holidays. The new wage revision would entail an additional yearly outgo of Rs.7,898 crore for the banks. Out of the total corpus, Rs.4,513 crore was the share of officers to be distributed under various heads for the benefit of all officers, the release said.


Share:

11th Bipartite Settlement Updates : Small Committee Meeting with IBA on 18th August

On Saturday, 18.08.2018 Small Committee Meeting was held at IBA Office Mumbai. The Meeting went on for about 3 hours. 

Management side was led by Mr. G. Rajkiran Rai, M.D. of Union Bank.

Ancillary Demands were discussed. Broad Understanding was reached on a few issues. "Things have started moving now", was the experience. 

Issues Discussed :

D. A. FORMULA : Unions are asked to submit detailed note on their suggestion on this.

House Rent Reimbursement : On the basis of Rent Paid Receipt. Since cost is involved, the issue will be discussed at main Negotiating Committee level.

 Transport Allowance : Marginal Increase agreed.

LEAVE MATTERS :
@ Notice period reduction to *10* days for PL other than LFC purpose accepted.

@  Enhancement in Accumulation of PL limit issue will be taken up at main Negotiating Committee Level.

@ Sick Leave : After service over 30 years, sick leave credit of 30 days on half pay  for each completed year accepted.

@ Sick Leave to Women Employees : For looking after sick child below 8 years of age may be permitted.

@ If Sick Leave fully exhausted, PL may be permitted ignoring no. of times PL availed in a year.

@ M. L. : Over & above max. limit on Maternity Leave, extra 2 Months leave may be given to cover cases of hysterectomy.

@ Paternity Leave : For adoptions may be permitted.

@ Extra Ordinary Leave : may be permitted upto 120 days per occasion. 

@ Management accepted BKSM demand 'to treat Absence during Curfew, Natural Calamities, Flood etc. as on duty/ Special Leave.

@ Leave Bank :  BKSM is asked to submit detailed note in this regard.

@ LFC Entitlement : Demand for enhancement in limit accepted. 
Clerks    : 2200 / 4400 km
Sub Staff : 2550 /5100 km
Provided they actually travel. For LFC on Declaration basis, existing limits will remain. 

@ Road Mileage Charges : enhancement accepted. From Rs. 6 per km to Rs. 8 per km.

@  Sightseeing & Local Charges : are accepted to be permitted in LFC provided they fall within overall LFC limit.

@  LFC GST : on ticket charges permitted.

@  Rajdhani / Shatabdi : Train fares accepted to be reimbursed if actually travelled in case of LFC.

@  BKSM suggestion for one more option to change over LFC Block from 2 to 4 years and vice versa accepted.

@  On BKSM Demand for total exemption from Income Tax on Entire Retirement Benefits , IBA may discuss it in Management meet and convey matter to appropriate Govt authority.

@  Five Day Week : IBA agreed to write to RBI/Govt.

@  Increase in PF Contribution : IBA asked Unions to take up matter with individual Banks.

@  NPS : Service Charges levied on Employee's a/c to be borne by Bank. This demand of BKSM is accepted.

@  IBA agreed to  enhance Special Area Allowance.

@  Ceiling on Dependent's Income : IBA Accepted suggestion. May be up from present Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000.

@  Other Allowances : Such as Cycle, Washing, Split Duty etc may be enhanced by 15 %. No decision on Diem allowance so far. Halting Allowance and Lodging Expenses may be enhanced.

@  Breakage Charges on Transfer : May be enhanced to Rs. 1650 & 1100 for Clerks & Sub Staff respectively.

@  Conveyance Allowance paid to Physically Challenged, Differently Abled Employees may go up from present Rs. 400 pm to Rs. *600* pm.

@  Voluntary Cessation of Service : IBA Refused to delete these provisions. But all those who have been imposed Voluntary Cessation so far, may be given Retirement Benefits such as Pension etc. Those who were removed from Service under this clause will be given a chance to Represent.

@  There was just suggestion for Common D.A. Index for all Pensioners. It did not move further.

@  Uniform Salary Fitment for ex - Servicemen joining Banks : IBA to take up with Govt of India.

XI th Bipartite Settlement Main Negotiating Committee meeting may take place around 5 th September. 

Things have started moving. Let the outcome come early and in good shape.

Thank You.  

VILAS GHUGARE
General Secretary

Bank Karmachari Sena Mahasangh
Share:

Today's Bipartite Settlement talks with IBA - Points on which IBA agreed

Negotiation took place today. IBA started the discussion from 13.5% in view of the strike call without improvement of any other issues. After protracted discussion,it was agreed that hike will be 15% in pay slip cost, 5 day week will be pursued,  a small committee will be formed to work out on increasing load from 2,% & spl allowance merger.  IBA to share  data of pensioners with UFBU.
With this understanding the strike stands deferred and the UFBU  agitation programme will be in abeyance.


Share:

IBA, UFBUs to meet on Saturday to close wage pact: Points to be discussed


The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and United Forum of Bank Unions (UBFU) will meet on Saturday to close the eleventh bipartite settlement. Among the key discussion points are an 18-20 per cent raise in wages and a five-day work week.


The tenth settlement elapsed in October 2017, and a deal was reached with IBA that a new pact will be effective from November 2017. The finance ministry, too, had instructed that negotiations begin six months earlier from the date of expiry of the last settlement.

Pressure is mounting on the both the IBA and UBFU as the three-day bank strike called from March 11 will see banks remain shut for six days in that week —March 10 is a holiday on account of Holi, and March 15 is a second Saturday. Bank unions have also threatened an indefinite strike from April if the wage pact is not closed.

“The meeting of UFBU held at Mumbai on (February) 13… came to the unanimous and inescapable conclusion that intensified (agitation has) to be resorted to press our demands for reasonable resolution and satisfactory settlement,” said a bank union office-bearer.The talks come just ahead of the mergers of four sets of state-run banks, effective from April 1. The mergers are of Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank; Union Bank of India, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; and Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank.

“Wage issues will have a bearing on the merging banks in a big way. So, we want this to be settled ahead of fiscal year end,” said a bank official. Mergers in the recent past — be it the State Bank of India’s merger of its five associate banks with itself, or that of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank — had come well within the indicated time frame for hammering out the wage settlement.

“Wage issues will have a bearing on the merging banks in a big way. So, we want this to be settled ahead of fiscal year end,” said a bank official. Mergers in the recent past — be it the State Bank of India’s merger of its five associate banks with itself, or that of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank — had come well within the indicated time frame for hammering out the wage settlement.

UBFU’s revised demand was on the grounds that the gap between what bank employees earn when compared to those in the government’s equivalent grade has widened. And even after a 20 per cent pay hike, this difference will stand reduced only at the beginning of the scale, but will still be at about half of the same at the end of it.
Share:

Bank unions reject IBA's wage hike offer in today's meeting- 11th Bipartite Settlement Updates

Bank employees unions on Thursday rejected Indian Banks Association’s (IBA) offer of 15 per cent hike in wages and decided to go ahead with two day strike beginning January 31, 2020.

IBA offered a 15 per cent hike in wages, a revision over previous offer of 12.5 per cent at bilateral meeting of bank and trade union representatives to avert agitation by bank employees.

C H Venkatachalam, general Secretary, All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), said banks have declined to consider demand for five days banking in week and merger of special allowance.

Banks, under aegis of IBA, have improved offer (15 per cent). But it not acceptable and United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has decided to go ahead with proposed two-day strike (January 31 and February 01, 2020) he said.

Meanwhile IBA in a statement said in the meeting held today (on January 30, 2020), despite the revised offer of upto 19 per cent hike including performance linked incentive made from IBA side.

During discussions, IBA team explained the conditions of business, paying capacity of Banks and consistent efforts at providing various types of benefits to the employees. But Unions are pressing for some other demands which are not possible to accept, IBA said.

One such demand is for 5-day banking. It is known to all that the economy of the country is going through testing times.  Banks being the principal players in economic development, cannot afford to provide lesser number of working days for banking activities, IBA added.

United Forum of Bank Unions which consists of nine bank unions of employees and officers, viz. AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW and NOBO, has given the call for agitational programmes including strike actions.

Unions have also planned a three-day strike from March 11, followed by an indefinite strike from April 01, 2020.

Some of the major demands include Wage Revision Settlement at 20 per cent hike on Pay slip components with adequate loading thereof, Scrapping of New Pension Scheme(NPS), Updation of Pension and Improvement in Family Pension.

For the convenience of the customers, Banks will keep alternative channels available and customers can utilise these alternate/digital channels of banking 24x7 for day to day banking.
Share:

Updates of today's meeting of 11th Bipartite Settlement


IBA team was led by IBA Chairman Mr. Rajnish Kumar, who is Chairman of SBI.


The following discussion took place :

1. Revised Offer : The offer for hike in Fixed Pay was enhanced from 12% to 12.25 % on pay slip. This offer is with 2% loading. "In view of overall difficult financial condition of Banks, it is not possible to go beyond this offer," was made clear by IBA. 

2. Special Allowance : Due to extra financial burden IBA refused the Demand for Merger of Spl Allowance with Basic.

3. Five Day Week : IBA flatly refused this Demand raised once again.

4. PL Encashment : At present PL can be encashed (i) on retirement (ii) while availing LFC.

A NEW channel for PL Encashment will be introduced. Employees can encash 5 days' PL every year against available balance.

As special case, those employees having less than 5 years' remaining service, shall be able to encash 7 day PL every year against balance available. 

5. Family Pension : IBA is working on enhancing it. They have accepted that it is not adequate.

6. Pension : For enhancement, cost factor is prohibitive. IBA is working on it. But they have not committed anything in this regard.

7. Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) :

As per suggestions made by Unions IBA came out with Revised Offer as under : 

It is payable on year on year increase in Operating Profit.

(A) If Operating Profit increase is between 5 to 10 %, the Incentive will be 2.75 % which equals 10 days' salary.
(B) if Operating Profit increases by 10 to 15 %, the Incentive will be 3.84 % which equals 14 days' salary.
(C) if Operating Profit increases by 15% & above, Incentive will be 5.75 % which equals 21 days' salary.
(D) For those Banks which could not register NET PROFIT, but it's Operating Profit increase is above 5% : the PLI will be @ 2.75% or 10 Days' salary.



Share:

Summary of Today's meeting of 11th Bipartite Settlement

Core Committee Meeting (Workmen) held on
      28 November 2019

As decided during Main Negotiations Committee Meeting held on 15 Nov, '19 : Core Committee (Workmen) Meeting was held today at IBA Office, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.


Discussions:-

1.  Adoption of New Series of C. P. Index for D. A. calculation and formula for DA calculation to be decided during the next Main Negotiating Committee Meeting. 

2.  Union demand for PL accumulation upto 300 days & it's encashment on retirement to be put before Main Committee.

3.  For Adoption of Child upto 1 yr ML agreed with certain conditions.

4.  Sabbatical Leave to all employees. The matter is left to individual banks. 

5.  LFC : There will be improvement in distance permitted to Sub Staff.

6.  LFC : For Workmen employees travel by own car permitted. At par with provision for officers.

7.  LFC :  with package tour not permitted. 

8. Outsourcing : From the earlier clause " as per RBI guidelines to be done for non core activities." It is agreed to *remove words as per RBI guidelines.*

9.  OT : For simplified & improved method note is submitted by Unions. To be discussed further.

10.  Punishment : For gross misconduct, *fine* as punishment may be removed.

11.  Ex Servicemen : Only the guidelines issued by "Dept of Financial Services" of Govt of India to be followed uniformly. 

12. Unions wanted time gap between Business hours and Working hours should be 2 hours instead of present 1 hour. This demand was rejected outright by the IBA.

Whatever is accepted is subject to final approval at Main Committee level. 

 Negotiations may take decisive turn during next meeting on *3 Dec, 2019.*
Share:

  Useful links for Bankers
   * Latest DA Updates
   * How to recover Bad loans/NPA Acs
   * Latest 12th BPS Updates
   * Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
   * Tips while taking charge as Manager
   * Software used by Banks in India
   * Finacle Menus, Shortcuts & Commands
   * Balance Inquiry Number of all Banks
   * PSU & Private Banks Quarterly result
   * Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *