The nation-wide strike called by Federal of Bank of India Officer’s Associations (FBIOA) and United Forum of Bank Unions crippled services at all nationalised banks in Mysuru this morning causing much inconvenience to the public. The protest was called against Narendra Modi-led government’s monetary policy and reforms in the banking industry and labour laws.

Participating banks included State Bank of India, State Bank of Mysore, Canara Bank, State Bank of Hyderabad, Andhra Bank, State Bank of Travancore, Punjab National Bank, Bank of India and Bank of Maharashtra.

The functioning of private lenders like ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Yes Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were normal except delay in cheque clearances.

Cheque clearances and cash transactions were disrupted while ATMs are likely to be emptied of cash after the morning hours. Services at banks like NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS money transfer system were affected as people who came to the banks for such transactions had to return homes seeing closed doors of the banks.

More than 2,000 nationalised bank employees assembled at the Canara Bank Regional Office at Nazarbad and State Bank of Mysore Regional Office at T.K. Layout. Holding placards and banners, they shouted slogans against the Union government.  

At the heart of their joint stir is a demand that loan defaulters be brought to book, bank officials be paid compensation for the extra work they took on during demonetisation and easing of pain resulting from privatisation of government banks. Protesting banks are also demanding a five-day week.

Unions are also opposed to the proposed labour reforms of the government and outsourcing of permanent jobs in the banking sector. They also demanded early initiation of process of next wage revision of bank employees, adequate recruitment in all cadres and accountability of top executives.