SBI chief terms strike call an ‘act of mischief'

The two-day strike called by the State Bank of India Officers' Association (since deferred) is an ‘act of mischief', said Mr Pratip Chaudhuri, Chairman, State Bank of India.

“Most of their demands such as five-day week and regulated working hours are industry level demands which have to be addressed by Indian Banks' Association. All public sector banks have these issues but they are only targeting SBI. It is an act of mischief,” Mr Chaudhuri told Business Line on the sidelines of a banking seminar here recently.

The two-day strike on November 8-9 was deferred by the officers' association as State Bank moved the Mumbai High Court against the stir, Mr Chaudhuri said.

Given that there are two bank holidays this week on November 7 and 10 the strike would have brought operations at the country's largest commercial bank to a grinding halt for five days at a stretch.

However, the officers' association concede that the strike has been called off as the bank had agreed to some of its demands. Mr Thomas Franco, SBI officers' association, Chennai Circle, said, “Though some of our demands were industry level issues, issues pertaining to transfers and promotion of staff to officer cadre and adequate compensation to officers working on holidays are bank-related issues.”

The bank management has given assurance to consider these issues, Mr Franco said.