People's Democracy

THE RBI management has reacted to the successful September 6 strike by around 17,000 RBI clerical employees (see People’s Democracy, September 16) in an unprecedented manner. It has issued a show-cause notice to the All India Reserve Bank Employees Association (AIRBEA) to explain as to why its recognition by the bank should not be withdrawn.

The reason cited is the AIRBEA participation in strikes on two earlier occasions, on May 11 and December 11, 2000, besides the latest one. The earlier strikes were called by the National Platform of Mass Organisations that includes central trade union organisations and employees’ federations and by the United Forum of Bank Unions, respectively. Both were organised to oppose the central government’s anti-people policies whose agenda includes denationalisation of the public sector banks. Reserve Bank staff participated in those strikes in solidarity.

It is notable that though many trade unions as well as all the unions of bank and insurance employees and officers participated in these strikes, nowhere did any management take such a stand.

The recent strike on September 6 was organised after due notice was given in compliance with the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act. It was on some important issues related to Class III staff of the RBI and was observed when all efforts of the AIRBEA failed to persuade the management to negotiate and sort out the problems as per the provisions of August 2000 wage settlement. The RBI also refused to honour the commitments made repeatedly by successive executive directors and by its deputy governor in the September 5 conciliation meeting at Mumbai. Sincere efforts of the RLC(C) to avert the strike fell through, as the bank categorically refused to even open a dialogue with the AIRBEA on the issues. While the AIRBEA extended all cooperation for a peaceful solution, the strike was thrust upon it by the management’s rigid attitude.

After the total September 6 strike in all RBI offices, the AIRBEA sincerely hoped that the bank would properly assess the sentiments of the largest segment of its staff and initiate steps to assuage their feelings. Instead, it has come out with the threat to derecognising the AIRBEA. While the management did not listen to the staff’s justified grievances, it is now trying to silence even their peaceful protest.

The show-cause notice objects to even the most innocuous programmes like tiffin-time mass deputations. This extremely arbitrary move aims at bringing to naught all sorts of union activities in the RBI. But the AIRBEA says it will, as always, continue to espouse the cause of the working people in general and of RBI employees in particular. Its fear is that the RBI’s contemplated measure, in violation of established trade union norms and democratic values, may lead to a prolonged industrial unrest in the bank.

Hence the AIRBEA has once again urged on the RBI management to refrain from confrontation and hold talks with the AIRBEA to diffuse the situation. It appealed to all trade unions and democratic bodies to oppose the RBI’s unprecedented move that may be the precursor of things to come in other sectors. The AIRBEA also appealed to the media to exert pressure on the RBI management to open a dialogue with the AIRBEA, lest the strained relations lead to a disturbing and uneasy situation in the institution.

The central executive committee of the AIRBEA will meet at New Delhi on October 1 to decide the course of action to thwart the offensive. (INN)