Bank union asks for review of computerisation policy

Demanding a review of the ‘indiscriminate’ computerisation of the banking services, a bank trade union organisation on Monday said...

Demanding a review of the ‘indiscriminate’ computerisation of the banking services, a bank trade union organisation on Monday said that such efforts were aimed at reducing the workforce in the sector.

‘‘There has been no fresh recruitment in banks since 1984,’’ National Organisation of Bank Workers, general secretary V.B. Indurkar said here adding that pursuing the management’s goal of 100 per cent computerisation would result in ‘dehumanised banking’ in the future.

‘‘If the banks suffer from surplus workforce, they should use the excess staff to man an extra shift that could serve customers till late in the evening.’’

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The union, affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, said the negotiations with the Indian Banks Association regarding wage revision was deadlocked due to the latter’s insistence that the unions agree to its charter including, among other provisions, transfer and mobility of staff from urban to rural areas and change in rules regarding disciplinary action.

Accusing other unions of consenting to the iba’s demands, now vice president Satish Chhabra said “no union has the right to surrender the rights and facilities already achieved by the bank employees.”

Terming the plans to put shares of the public sector banks on sale a ’ploy’ to placate big business, Indurkar said if these efforts succeed, the already burgeoning non-performing assets will rise further.