UFBU CIRCULAR No. UFBU/2013/4 dt. 12.8.2013
Bipartite talks with IBA
Another round of
bipartite talks took place today in Mumbai between IBA and UFBU on our demands
for wage revision. IBA was represented
by their Negotiating Committee led by its Chairman Shri T M Bhasin. UFBU was
represented by all our nine constituent unions.
The meeting condoled the death of Com. R J Sridharan, Chairman, AIBOA,
who was in the negotiating committee till 9th Bipartite Wage
Revision.
The meeting was held in a
cordial atmosphere and discussions were fruitful. In the day-long discussions held, satisfactory decisions on some
of the important issues could be arrived at.
Continuing
the discussions of the last round of talks held on 7th June, 2013, we
emphasised the need for IBA to expedite and conclude the settlement in a time
bound manner. We also asked them to
react and respond to the issues like date of effect for commencement of the
revised wages, consumer price index point upto which Dearness Allowance is to
be merged with basic pay for construction of revised pay scales, quantum of
wage revision, etc.
Date
of effect: In response, the IBA agreed that the new wage
settlement would be effective from 1st November, 2012, i.e. the date from which
the 10th Bipartite Settlement is due.
Merger
of DA for constructing revised Pay Scales: IBA explained their constraints to consider
merger of Dearness Allowance at higher index points. After prolonged
discussions and on the insistence of the UFBU for merger of D.A at a higher level
to enable construction of Pay Scales in a reasonable manner looking to the Pay
Scales of employees and officers in comparable sectors, IBA agreed and conceded
to merge Dearness Allowance upto 4440 Consumer Price Index i.e. 401 slabs and
construct new pay scales accordingly.
Increase in wage load: On the
offer of the wage load increase, IBA wanted to study the cost impact of the
merger before responding. However, the UFBU reiterated its demand that
the offer should be exclusive of superannuation cost and improvements in other
welfare measures. IBA indicated that the
same would be kept in mind by them.
REIUBURSEMENT
OF HOSPITALISATION EXPENSES: To
our demand for 100% reimbursement of hospitalisation expenses incurred by the
employees/officers for self and eligible family members, IBA offered
introduction of mediclaim policy facility under which hospitalisation expenses
would be reimbursed by the insurance company upto Rs. 2 lacs for substaff, Rs.
3 lacs for clerical staff and Rs. 4 lacs for officers per year. Looking to the
various implications of switching over to the new scheme and the need to
examine the pros and cons of the scheme, we said that a detailed study is
required on the contents of the scheme offered before responding.
Management’s
issues: The management’s issues
like introduction of cost to company method, Fixed Pay and Variable Pay concept
were discussed and UFBU has given its strong views against the same. However, the matter remained inconclusive.
Compassionate
ground appointment Scheme: Another
vital issue, much dearer to all the bank employees, which is relentlessly being
pursued by the UFBU is restoration of compassionate appointments in the Banking
Industry. IBA informed us in today's meeting that its recommendations for introduction
of compassionate appointment scheme on similar lines prevailing in Central
Government for its employees has been sent to Ministry of Finance, Govt. of
India for its approval. No doubt, it is an important step in the direction of
restoring compassionate appointments in the Banking Industry which is a long pending
demand. While thanking the IBA for the positive step taken in this direction,
we earnestly hope that the Government would accord its approval at the
earliest.
Comrades, in today’s
discussions, we could arrive at conclusion on two vital issues i.e. date of
effect and merger of dearness allowance. We thank the team of the
Negotiating Committee of IBA for this forward movement in the discussions.
The date for the
next round of discussions will be decided in due course.
Sd..
M.V. MURALI
CONVENER
