Bank Unions goes for nationwide strike against merger

December 26:  United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU) – a consortium of nine unions in the banking sector – has gone on one-day nationwide bank strike on December 26 opposing the merger of Bank of Baroda, Dena Bank and Vijaya Bank.

All India Bank Employees Association General Secretary C H Venkatachalam said that the government had in September approved the merger of the three public sector lenders. Following the government nod, the respective boards of these banks gave their approval for the amalgamation. As such, it was decided to give the call for strike.

The merged entity will be third largest lender of the country after State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank.

Along with the rest of the country, at Silchar too, the United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU) participated in this strike. Slogans were raised against the government for deciding to merge three banks. Further, demands were also made for wage settlement.