PSU bank strike cripples services across the country

Employees of public sector banks have begun a two-day nationwide strike on Wednesday opposing banking sector reforms and outsourcing of non-core activities, affecting operations.Bank unions have been demanding pension revision, housing loan revision, a five-day working week and human resource related issues.  The strike call was given by the United Forum of Bank Unions protesting banking sector reforms and unilateral implementation of the Khandelwal committee report on human resources management in PSU banks. The strike has been called against government’s policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation. The strike is on since this morning. Nearly 10 lakh employees are participating in it. This includes 27 public- sector banks like SBI and IDBI, 12 private banks and 8 foreign banks”. ATM machines will work until they have the cash and thereafter those services will also be impacted.