Friday, February 26, 2010

OPTIONS BEFORE UFBU

OPTIONS BEFORE UFBU


It is very clear and evident that the present set of leadership failed miserably in convincing IBA team to get the MOU converted into a settlement. The costing of pension ,improvement of medical expenses etc all eye wash to deny the benefit to bank men. If clearance comes from the top political leadership , within 24 hours settlement could be signed without any negotiation.

If this trend continues majority of PF optees retired under normal course will die sooner or later without seeing light of the pension and only the family will be entitled to meager family pension ,in which case surrendering of PF will become a wasteful exercise. A month delay means advancing to death by a month which the concerned parties to the settlement should understand. It is the internal politics of the negotiating team which is playing havoc.
The following options can be considered :
LEAVE THE ENTIRE MATTER LIKE PENSION COSTING , DATE OF EFFECT OF PENSION PAYMENT AND ALL OTHER DISPUTED AREAS TO IBA . LET THEM DECIDE. IF YOU DO THAT THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE WILL GO UP SINCE UFBU IS NOT IN THE PICTURE.
FURTHER THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY CONSULT THE NORTH BLOCK AND GET THE SETTLEMENT SIGNED BEFORE CLOSING OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.
PRESENT LEADERSHIP SHOULD TAKE MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE OF THE NEGOTIATING SKILL DUE TO INTRENAL SQUABBLES. SO GIVE WAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAY ACHIEVE BETTER BENEFITS TO THE EMPLOYEES ./PENSIONERS. THE PRESENT SET UP THROUGH THEIR LACK OF IMAGINATION AND VISION DRAGGED THE BANK EMPLOYEES STATURE TO THE UNDISPUTABLE LAST POSITION WHEN COPMPARED TO CENTRAL /STATE/QUASI/PUBLIC SECTOR AFTER THE VI TH PAY COMMISSION.
WHEN THEY GOT FULL DA NEUTRALISATION IN THE PRESENT SETTLEMENT THEY DELIBERATELY FAILED TO ACHIEVE AND GET THE SAME BENEFIT TO THEIR OWN SENIOR COLLEAGUES WHO RETIRED PRIOR TO 01.11.2002 WHICH IS UNHEARD OF IN THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS WHOLEHEARTEDLY EXTENDING ONE BENFIT OR OTHER CONTINUOUSLY BY INCREASING THE PUBLIC DEBT BY SUITABLE BORROWING PROGRAMME. WITH OUT COST CONSCIOUSNESS WHY BANK EMPLOYEES ALONE ARE HUMILIATED. MANY OF THE LOSS MAKING UNITS WERE GIVEN HEFTY PAY INCREASE BY CONSIDERING BOTH AS DIFFERENT PARAMETERS. THEN WHY YOU ARE ALLOWING IBA TO SIT WITH A CALCULATOR INSTEAD OF SEEKING PARITY.

WHAT EVER BE THE DECISION CAN BE REVERSED AND NEXT SETTLEMENT CAN BE CLINCHED WITHOUT PENSION COSTING, IE 100% MANAGEMENT EXPENSES AND ALSO PENSION UPDATION. IN A COUNTRY LIKE INDIA ANY THING MAY HAPPEN . NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. BUILD UP THE MORALE OF THE EMPLOYEES AND SEEK PARITY IN THE NEXT SETTLEMENT WHICH SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ON 01.11.2012 ITSELF.
CONCENTRATE ON THAT EXCLUSIVE FOR THE SERVING EMPLOYEES LIKE INTRODUCTION OF VARIABLE PAY LIKE GRADE PAY FOR PERFORMANCE. IMPROVING HRA RATES TO 15,20 AND 30% . TRANSPORT ALLOWANCE, EDUCATION ALLOWANCE, MEDICAL AID ETC. KEEP THE BASIC AND DA AS SUCH . IT WILL SERVE TWO PURPOSE. ONE WE CAN COMPARE OURSELVES WITH SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION IF AT ALL IT COMES.
SECOND IBA WILL NOT ASK YOU TO RECALCULATE PENSION LOAD ONCE AGAIN. HENCE YOU ACCEPT WHAT THEY OFFER NOW. KEEP LOW PROFILE. YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE A TIMELY FIGHT . STRIKE THE IRON WHEN IT IS HOT. NOW NO USE. TOOLATE .

K BALASUBRAMANIAN

Monday, February 15, 2010

ERNEST APPEAL TO PM/FM/TOP BUREAUCRATS OF BANKING DIVISION MOF

ERNEST APPEAL TO PM/FM/TOP BUREAUCRATS OF BANKING DIVISION MOF

Bank employees negotiations /pension option /full neutralization of DA to pre 01.11.2002 pensioners is not yet settled in spite of the assurance given in the parliament somewhere in the same time during last year Every one knows very well that the implementation of sixth pay commission to central government employees has started a wage war throughout the country . The governments acceptance tantamounts to determination of /standardization of salary levels for the different cadres. GOOD GESTURE.
After that several state governments has voluntarily agreed to implement the recommendations by creating huge debt burden. OK. GOOD
Government has accepted the liberal recommendations to public sector undertakings even better than pay commission because they are classified under public sector and not covered by the pension scheme .Here also the increase is not proportionate to the profit earned etc but on adhoc basis only by agreeing certain salary levels to the position they are holding. VERY GOOD GESTURE.
Then UGC Scales, Judiciary recommendations, ONE RANK ONE PENSION, everywhere 100% justice has appeared to have been done. EXCELLENT.

WE ARE VERY SAD TO BRING YOUR KIND ATTENTION THAT THE SAME TYPE OF PATRONAGE HAS NOT BEEN EXTENDED TO THE BANK EMPLOYEES WHO WERE BETTER PAID TILL 1996.
WHAT IS THE REASON FOR YOUR NEGLECTING THE EMPLOYEES AS UN TOUCHABLES IN THE SOCIETY EVEN THOUGH THE CONCEPT OF UNTOUCHABILITY WAS ERADICATED TOTALLY .
PLEASE APPLY YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS AND THINK FOR A WHILE.

ACHIVEMENTS OF THE BANKING INDUTRY :
BANKS ARE WITH STANDING THE RECESSION AND WORLDWIDE FINANCIAL CRISIS LIKE A SOLID ROCK
THEY ARE EARNING GOOD NET PROFIT AND TRANSFERRED MORE THAN 50000 CRORES TO THE EXCHEQUER SINCE 2006
HUGE WRITTEN OFF FROM TIME TO TIME WERE SILENTLY ABSORBED WHICH IS VERY HIGH WHEN COMPARED THE WAGE COST.

Which sector the government wants to classify them . If it is under public sector mean s more than 100% salary hike has to be given. So forget about that .Since the implementation of PILLAI COMMITTEE DURING 1979 as standardization of wages BANK OFFICERS SALARY LEVEL WERE BROUGHT DOWN TO CLASS I OFFICER LEVEL. So the then government and the political leadership has agreed that the level of starting pay for officers should be the same. Whether it is bank or government or college lecturer etc.

It is the generous package given under fifth pay commission and sixth pay commission and introduction of new item called grade pay only made the salary to a very good level which has created a good purchasing power among the government/public sector employees.
Every person who is following the financial position of the government also knows that this bonanza to the employees /pensioners has created huge fiscal deficit in addition to other reasons like oil subsidy, stimulus package etc.
Now coming to the banking sector you are the major share holder and hence employer who has to take care of the employees like government employees /public sector employees. The matter should not be left to IBA/UFBU who failed miserably in coming to understanding through collective bargaining. It lost its relevance because the attitude of the government changed in favour of the employees and hence simply by a notification you can implement the pattern of sixth pay commission scales to OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT COVERED UNDER INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE ACT.JUST LIKE PILLAI COMMITTEE SCALES.
Then for award staff suitable parity can be maintained and IBA can be instructed to work out the scales along with the award staff union and settlement can be arrived even before the end of this month. This will give much needed relief to nearly eight lakhs serving employees and officers who lost hope in the negotiation drama going on and expecting some type of magic formula. HAVING AGREED FOR LIBERALISED WAGES TO NEARLY TWO CRORES OF STATE /CENTRAL GOVERNMENT /QUASI GOVERNMENT/PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES WHY VICTIMISING BANK EMPLOYEES ALONE BY OFFERING POOR INCREASE AND EVEN NEGOTITING FOR MINOR DIFFERENCE IN AMOUNTS.
PENSION OPTION AND 100% DA NEUTRALISATION TO PRE 01.11.2002 RETIRED EMPLOYEES/OFFICERS
Since the scales of bank and the government are more or less running in the same level the concept of pension introduced with some onerous clauses in the beginning. Around 60% of the staff accepted . Rest of the people might have feared for the onerous clauses or the then prevailing high interest rate .When the clause was withdrawn subsequently one more option should have been given. OK . Government is magnanimous enough in agreeing for one more pension option now to all the left out employees. When banks are making good profits and they are not seeking government grants why in and each every stage IBA is creating bottlenecks, nobody is understanding.
When last settlement was signed and full neutralization of DA was introduced wef 01.05.2005, unions /IBA silently omitted to cover the 100% neutralization scheme to pre 01.11.2002 pensioners. Why ? No body is there to represent the case. It was referred to the parliamentary committee and they agreed in principle. Why IBA can not suggest it and automatically extend the benefit to the senior bankers who toiled for growth of the industry to this level.
Hence I earnestly request the top echelons of the government to be liberal in the matter of bank employees wage revision and do justice .
I also request you to instruct IBA suitably to immediately accept full DA neutralization to pre 01.11.2002 pensioners.
K BALASUBRAMANIAN RETIRED SEBNIOR MANAGER VRS 2000 PENSION OPTEE

Friday, February 12, 2010

BUDGET SUGGESTIONS

BOLD INITIATIVE NEED OF THE HOUR INSTEAD OF INCRAESING DEBT BURDEN


PERSONAL TAXATION
IT EXEMPTION THRESHOLD LIMIT SHOULD BE INCREASED TO 2 LAKHS WITH SUITABLE ADJUSTMENTS FOR WOMEN/SENIOR CITIZENS TO SAVE FROM THE RUN AWAY FOOD INFLATION AS THE EXPENDITURE HAS GONE UP BY MORE THAN 60% SINCE 2008

BOOSTING REVENUE
STIMULUS PACKAGAE ANNOUNCED DURING 2008-09 MAY BE WITHDRAWN COMPLETELY TO THE LUXURY SECTOR AND PARTIALLY TO TRANSPORT AND OTHER SECTORS THE FISCAL DEFICIT IS AT THE PEAK SINCE INDEPENDENCE BECAUSE OF THE OVER ALL INCREASE IN BOTH PLAN AND NON PLAN EXPENDITURE

SPECIAL ADVALOREM TAX ON LUXURY IMPORTS CAN BE INTRODUCED AS A REVENUE RAISING MEASURE THE LUXURY SECTOR CAN ABSORB IT

NO FRESH CONCESSIONS NEED TO BE ANNOUNCED IN EXCISE DUTY REVNUE NEUTRAL/NO SACRIFICE ON EXISTING REVNUUES

POSTOPONING FISCAL DEFICIT

IMPOUNDING OF ADDITIONAL DEARNESS ALLOWANCE BY AT LEAST 50% TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR/ GOVERNMENT SECTOR PAYABLE WEF 01 JANUARY 2010 AT LEAST DA WILL GO UP BY 15% OF THE REVISED SCALES DURING THIS YEAR AND IMPOUNDING 50% WILL HAVE A IMPACT BOTH ON THE MONEY SUPPLY AND POSTPONING IF NOT PRUNING FISCAL DEFICIT NOT ONLY TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BUT ALSO RELIEF TO STATE GOVERNMENTS

SAVING STIMULUS

A BOLD INITIATIVE CAN BE TAKEN BY OFFERING A HIGHER COUPON RATE OF 9 % INTREST FREE INFRA STRUCTURE BONDS FOR A MATURITY PERIOD OF 10 TO 15 YEARS BANKS CAN ALSO ISSUE THIS TYPE OF BOND FUND COLLECTED CAN BE EXEMPTED FROM CRR/SLR REQUIREMENTS MUCH RELIEF TO FIXED INCOME HOLDERS AGAINST THIS RUN AWAY FOOD INFLATION

BOLD STEP TO EXEMPT INTEREST INCOME

GOVERNMENT AT ONE STROKE CAN TOTALLY EXEMPT INTEREST ON DEPOSITS FROM APPROVED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS LIKE BANKS NBFC ETC AND INSTEAD CHARGE TO START WITH 5 % OF THE INTEREST PAID BY BANKS BASED ON THEIR BALANCE SHEET AS INTEREST TAX TO OFFSET THE LOSS IN REVENUE FORM 15G AND 15 H CAN GET GET AUTOMATICALLY ABOLISHED SO THAT THE DEPARTMENT CAN USE THE SCARCE MANPOWER ON BIG TICKET RETURNS BANKS CAN BE ASKED TO ALIGN THE RATES SUITABLY OR TO ABSORB THE EXPENDITURE

SALE OF GOLD THROUGH BANKS TO RETAILERS

GOVERNMENT CAN IMPORT DUTY FREE GOLD THROUGH NMDC OR PERMIT GOLD IMPORT BY BANKS OR OTHER BODIES AND MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AT THE RATE ATLEAST 10% BELOW THE MARKET PRICE CRORES OF MONEY CAN BE AVILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS GOVERNMENT CAN USE FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES FOR IMPORT OF GOLD. THIS IS NON INFLATIONERY BECAUSE MONEY SUPPLY IS GETTING CURBED OF COURSE SUITABLE METHOD TO BE EVOLVED FOR SMOOTH SALE AND REACHING RETAILERS


PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

PRICES SHOULD BE DECONTROLLED FOR KEROSENE AND COOKING GAS SUBSIDY CAN BE MADE AVILABLE TO THE BPL SECTION BY INTRODUCING CASH VOUCHERS TO BE EXCHANGED FOR KEROSENE SUBSIDY SUITABLE MECHANISM TO BE EVOLVED

APPEAL TO UFBU LEADERS

DEAR UFBU LEADERS,

IT HAS BEEN PROVED BEYOND DOUBT THAT THE PATIENCE OF THE BANK EMPLOYEES/PENSIONERS ARE MORE THAN THAT OF DHARMAR OF MAHA BHARATHA.FOR DHARMAR LORD KRISHNAR S TACIT SUPPORT WAS THERE. IN THIS KALIYUGA NO GOD WILL COME TO OUR SUPPORT DIRECTLY.
WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WHEN THOUSANDS OF CRORES WAS GIVEN AS LIBERAL WAGE REVISION BY CREATING HUGE DEBT BURDEN WHY GOVERNMENT/IBA IS HESITATING TO EXTEND THE EQUAL PACKAGE TO BANKMEN WHO IS TOILING VERY HARD IN ALL SPHERES OF BANKING INCLUDING SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER. EVEN YOUR LETTER TO THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE IS NOT CUTTING THE ICE MEANS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO NOW.
EVEN AFTER YOUR HISTORIC 17.5% PROPOSED WAGE HIKE PLEASE REMEMBER BANK MEN ARE GOING TO TAKE THE LEAST POSSIBLE POSITION WHEN COMPARED TO GOVERNBMENT/PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES. PLEASE SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM GOVERNMENT IN WHICH SECTOR THEY ARE CLASIFYING US.
WE ,PENSIONERS PRE 01.11.2002 ARE STRUGGLING WITHOUT 100% DA NEUTRALISATION WHEN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY ALL THE PEOPLE ARE COVERED BY 100% NEUTRALISATION. WHY WE SHOULD SUFFER THIS TYPE OF HUMILIATION INSPITE OF THE FINANCIAL SECTOR S BEST PERFOMANCE . THE SERVING EMPLOYEES HAS PERFORMEND EXCEEDINGLY WELL. YOUR LETTER IS A PROOF. RECENT ARTICLE IN FINANCIA DAILIES ARE SERVING AS ADDITIONAL PROOF.
INSPITE OF ALL THESE THINGS THERE IS DELAY IN GETTING ONE MORE PENSION OPTION /DECENT WAGE REVISION/DA 100% NEUTRALISATION TO PRE 01.11.2002 RETIREES MEANS SOMETHING IS FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG IS GOING ON. NEEDLE OF SUSPICION IS NATURALLY FALLING ON THE GREAT LEADERS LIKE INFIGHTING, SUPERIORITY AMONG THEM SELVES ETC
.IF IT IS NOT THERE THEN IT MEANS UTTER FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE LEADERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE TEAM. AND CLINCHING THE DEAL.
YOUR MPS MAY BE ASKED TO INVITE THE ATTENTION OF THE FINANCE MINISTER BY CALLING ATTENTION MOTION OR SIMPLY RAISING THE ISSUE DURING QUESTION HOUR WHO GAVE ASSURANCE .DURING THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.ATLEAAST LET IT APPEAR IN THE PRESS .SO THAT THE DELAY CAN BE EXPOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
OTHERWISE ASK MADAM MAMTA BANERJEE WHIO STALLED THE PRTROL PRICDE HIKE FOR THE PRESENT. ATLEAST SHE WILL HELP. LEFT PARTIES HAS LOST THE GOODWILL OF THE GOVERNMENT ; HENCE THEY ARE TAKING REVENGE NOW AND HARASSING INDIRECTLY THE BANKMEN.
IF THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE LIKE THIS, THEN THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE WAGE SICKNESS AND LACK OF INTEREST WHICH MAY START AMONG ENTHUSIASTIC CADRE WHICH WILL PAVE THE WAY OF DOWNWARD TREND IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.PLEASE THINK WHY FINANCIAL SECTOR EMPLOYEES IS BEING PAID DECENT SALARY WORLDWIDE.

K BALASUBRAMANIAN
RETIRED BANK MANAGER PENSION OPTED EXPECTING AT LEAST DA 100% NEUTRALISATION IF NOT PENSION UPDATION

Monday, February 1, 2010

BANKS STATUS VS POOR WAGES ON REALATIVITY BASIS

20 BANKS IN TOP 500 GLOBAL LIST : ECONOMIC TIMES 01 FEBRYARY 2010

NAME OF THE BANK RANK 2009 RANK 2010

STATE BANK OF INDIA 70 36
PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK 192 174
BANK OF INDIA 228 195
BANK OF BARODA 260 196
CANARA BANK 251 213
UNION BANK OF INDIA 351 274
INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK 371 334
ALLAHABAD BANK 345
INDIAN BANK 454 355
CORPORATION BANK 393
ORIENTAL BANK 467 447
SYNDICATE BANK 486 453
ANDHRA BANK 461
CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA 471


HATS OFF TO SERVING BANKMEN WHOSE EFFORTS EVEN WITHOUT ADEQUATE COMPENSATION SPEAKS VOLUMES AS ABOVE.
WHAT ELSE GOVT/IBA WANTS TO REWARD THE EMPLOYEES/OFFICERS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOVE
WHEN THEY ARE SPENDING THOUASNDS OF CRORES AS WAGES AND LIVING BEYOND THEIR MEANS WHAT PREVENTS THEM TO SHOW THE SAME GESTURE ON BANK PERSONNELS AND PENSIONERS. THE FAULTY APPROACH OF THE UFBU SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF GOVERNMENT GESTURE TO REWARD THE BANK EMPLOYEES AND BANK PENSIONERS AND MOTIVATE THEM TO REACH GREATER HEIGHTS IN FUTURE. IF GOVERNMENT/IBA COMBAINE ALLOWS LIBERAL WAGE REVISION ATLEAST ON PAR WITH SIXTH OPAY COMMISSION IN TOTAL, THE BANKMEN WILL PUT THEIR EFFORTS WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND SEE THAT ALL OF OUR BANKS COMING IN TWO DIGIT RANKS GLOBALLY WELL BEFORE IN 2012-15 PERIOD.

COME FORWARD IBA
COME FORWARD MINISTRY OF FINANCE
COME FORWARD FINANCE MINISTER
COMEFORWARD PRIME MINISTER
COME FORWARD INFLUENTIAL SECTION O FPOLITICIANS WHO CAN DO SOME HELP TO BANK EMPLOYEES
COME FORWARD BANK PARLIMENTARY COMMITTEE WHOSE RECOMMENDATIONS GOVERNMENT CAN HEAR
I AM NOT ASKING UFBU TO COME FORWARD BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT DO ANY THING . INSTEAD THEYSPOIL THE WHOLE SHOW BY INFIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES.

AFTER SEEING THE ABOVE NEWS ITEM , IBA CAN SIMPLY ALLOW THE FOLLOWING SCALES OF PAY WITHOUT NEGOTIATION FOR WHICH THE EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE AND DESERVE.

OFFICERS RUNNING SCALE 15000---60000 DA AS APPLICABLE+ HRA 30% + GRADE PAY 20%
CLERICAL RUNNING SCALE 7500….24000 DA AS APPLICABLE+ HRA 30% GRADE PAY 20%
SUBSTAFF RUNNING SCALE 6000….18000 DA AS APPLICABLE+ HRA 30% GRADE PAY 20%

ALLOW THE ABOVE SCALE FOR 2832 POINTS INDEX
EVEN IF THE EXPENDITURE ON ACCOUNT OF LIOBERAL WAGE REVISION IS MORE THAN 12000 CRORES MONEY IS AVAILABLE WITH IN THE SYSTEM.
PAY WELL AND DEMAND MORE RESULTS FROM THEM AND WATCH THE PERFORMANCE.
ALLOW FULL NEUTRALISATION OF DA TO PRE 01.11.2002 PENSIONERS AND ALSO PENSION UPDATION IN ADDITION TO SECOND OPTION FOR PENSION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.

DON’T MAKE BANK EMPLOYEES LAGGING FAR BEHIND IN SALARIES AND PENSION WHEN COMPARED TO THEIR GOVERNMENT COUNTER PARTS. DO YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION NOT ON BASIS OF CHARITY BUT ON THE BASIS OF PROVEN PERFORMANCE.

K BALASUBRAMANIAN RETIRED SENIOR MANAGER INDIAN BANK UNDER VRS 2000 SCHEME PENSION OPTEE
SUFFERING BECAUSE OF DENIAL OF 100% NEUTRALISATION AND PENSION UPDATION FOR WHICH UFBU IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE