There Should Be No Load Factor in Xth Bipartite Settlement  And Unjustice Done to Original PF Optees Must Be Removed

by

HIREN P.BHATELIA   hbhatelia@gmail.com

There had been ample discussions on the captioned subject at the time of finalisation of the last bipartite settlement. However, since the next bipartite settlement falls due during the current year, I think it appropriate to reopen the issue so that steps can be taken to remove the injustice meted out to the original PF optees at least now.
 

The worst thing of the last bipartite settlement was the wilful failure of the unions and the IBA to respect the sanctity of an MOU signed by themselves! The MOU which provided for "contribution of 1.6 times the Nov. 2007 salary by all employees was replaced by contribution of 2.8 times the Nov. 2007 salary by the new Pension Optees only" while drafting the final settlement. Such a u-turn, negating the sanctity of an industry level MOU, has never been found in the history prior to this.
 

As a matter of fact, no contribution by any one was required since the pension regulations containing a deterrent clause of forfeiture of past service upon participation in a stike was subsequently removed without giving fresh option to those who did not opt for pension only due to this deterrent clause. I have been representing this to the unions right since the first demand for second pension option was raised. I had repeatedly written to the unions to desist from any discriminatory treatment to the PF optees. My view point regarding the 'strike clause' was also supported by the Hon. (retired) Justice Krishna Iyer as published in ABS at the time of the last BPS. However, the unions never raised this just point but only blamed their own members for not opting for pension at the first instance and pleaded with the govt/IBA with a begging bowl for another pension option!

 

There was also one other important point for not making any discrimination between the old and new pension optees. Since the PF optees had already shared the cost of pension improvements during all previous bipartite settlements, it was totally unjust to ask only them to bear the cost of second pension option. In fact, no one should have been asked to contribute anything. The unions, instead of playing fair, have put two groups (of PF Optees and Pension Optees) against each other.
 

Moreover, is it fair to create different groups with discriminatory treatment among the employees of the same organisation /same industry with equal work? The unions at whose instance the RRB employees were given pay scales of sponsor banks on the principle of equal pay for equal work despite ill health of the RRBs, kept silent when the employees of nationalized banks were discriminated against SBI employees despite doing equal work and even getting recruited through the same BSRB (in case of most employees). Thus, they allowed discrimination among employees of SBI and other nationalized banks. Then, they discriminated between the old pension optees and the new pension optees working in same banks. Then they allowed one more group of new recruits with defined contribution pension scheme within the same banks. Is there any other organization in this country or even in the world where different employees of the same organization doing the same kind of work are treated with discrimination?

 

Isn't it high time for all bank employees to raise their voices against discriminations and ask for equal and fair treatment at least in the next bipartite settlement? The basic demands this time should be removal of all discriminations among bank employees and saying good-bye to working out load factors. If the unions can't do this, let there be a pay commission for banks which will at least impart justice by considering the views of all concerned without going into the exercises of calculating load factors. Why do the unions prepare charter of demands when they are bound by the load factor? Whether the banks can deny payment of salaries if the load does not permit? (One of my friends has already placed his views on ABS regarding pay commission for banks and futility of preparing a charter of demand)

 

And last but not the least? Where are those unions who had signed the last bipartite settlement under protest against discriminatory treatment meted out to the PF optees? What happened to their protest?

 

I request the bank employees to come forward to express their views, be they different from those of mine.