BANK EMPLOYEES FEDERATION OF INDIA
NARESH PAUL CENTRE
53 Radha Bazar Lane (1st Floor), Kolkata – 700 001
Circular No.56/2020 27th Aug 2020
To all Units, Affiliates, Office Bearers, CC & GC Members
Dear Comrades,
Sub: Letter to 4 Workmen Unions on Meeting of Working Groups
A meeting of the Working Group for Workmen is slated tomorrow at Mumbai. As we did not sign the MoU on 22nd July 2020, IBA will not invite us for further discussion was a known outcome. We all know another meeting of the Working Group for Workmen was held on 20th of this month. Meeting of the unions before the negotiation for distribution has been a practice followed till 10th Bipartite Settlement. BEFI was not consulted before any of the meetings. We did not sign the MoU for reasons explained unambiguously. The issues require to be discussed during the distribution have been identified during meetings of the small committee as well as full negotiating committee. On most of the issues IBA agreed to discuss during the distribution of quantum.
We addressed a letter to the General Secretaries of four Workmen Unions/Associations narrating our views on the subject matters.
Text of the letter is appended below .
With greetings,
Yours comradely,
.
(Debasish Basu Chaudhury)
General Secretary
TEXT OF THE LETTER TO THE GENERAL SECRETARIES OF WORKMEN UNIONS
Quote:
“We are aware that a meeting of the Working Group for Workmen was held on 20th of this month and another is slated to be held tomorrow, 28th August 2020.
As we all know, it had been practice to hold meeting of the unions prior to the negotiation for distribution of quantum to arrive at a common position. The meeting of tomorrow is going to be held physically at Mumbai and there has not been any intimation so far for holding meeting of workmen Unions, it won’t be possible for the undersigned to attend a Meeting at Mumbai even if it is decided now.
Moreover, we have already expressed our views on the MoU in a letter addressed to UFBU Convener on 25th of this month with copy marked to all constituents.
In this backdrop we would like to place our suggestions based on Common Charter of Demands and discussion held so far in Small Committee and Full Negotiation Committee meetings of which BEFI was an integral part.
Our views
Not withstanding our reservation on 2.5% loading, we like to point out that IBA has to clarify the basis of arriving at Rs.1155 Cr to be 2.5% of pay after merger of DA at 6352 point of C.P.I. Secondly as per IBA’s letter dt. 13.08.20, only 12.5% (15%-2.5%) of pay slip component is to be distributed on other heads which comes to Rs. 6582 Cr (12.5% of Rs 52655.34 Cr). After utilisation of Rs 1155 Cr for 2.5% loading on BP an amount of Rs 6743 Cr (Rs.7898Cr – Rs.1155Cr) is supposed to be available for distribution on other heads. Here there is mismatch of Rs 161 Cr (Rs 6743 Cr – Rs 6581 Cr). IBA should not be allowed to pass.
Stagnation increments once in 2 years without any ceiling for both clerical and subordinate staff.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Entry level clerical cadre to include duties of SWO and existing Special pay of Rs. 820 to be clubbed with Basic pay.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Entry level Sub staff cadre to include duties of Daftary and existing Special Pay of Rs. 560 to be clubbed with Basic pay while revising the Pay Scales.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
On revision first stage of PQP/EQP should be equivalent to the first stage increment in the pay scale with re-fixation with same proportion at all stages.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Revision of FPP on the same lines of revision of basic pay.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Other posts of Special Pay to be revised by merger of D.A and loading as in the case of Basic Pay.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Further increase in Special Pay amount commensurate with the increased duties, responsibilities and risks involved in each post.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component. In our opinion increase in duties and responsibilities for any special pay carrying post is not advisable)
Housing accommodation / Quarters to be provided by Banks to all employees. Wherever not provided, HRA to be paid.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Revision of HRA rates suitably and to be paid on the revised Pay.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component. We suggest for substantial increase of HRA rates)
Areas/population group to be re-classified and based on latest census figures.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Revision in HRA at project area centres.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Additional HRA in difficult and border areas.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Treating peripheral areas of metros/satellite towns like Chandigarh/Mohali/Panchkula, New Delhi/Gurgaon/NCR Regions, etc. at par for payment of HRA applicable to metro/satellite town respectively.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Reimbursement of HRA based on rent receipt.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Payment of HRA on Capital Cost where employee owns the house.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
HRA on Rent Receipt basis upto 150% of normal entitlement.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Adequate increase in all existing Other Allowances like Cycle Allowance, Washing Allowance, Split Duty Allowance, Project Area Compensatory Allowance, Paradip Port Allowance, Hill and Fuel Allowance, Water Scarcity Allowance, Compensation on Transfer, etc.
(IBA agreed to increase 15% in all the above mentioned allowances)
Adequate increase in Halting Allowance/ Reimbursement of Lodging Expenses while on travel on duty.
(IBA agreed in principal to this demand)
Extension of allowances whichever and wherever paid to Central/State Government Employees like Disturbed Area Allowance, Island Allowance, Agency/Tribal Allowance, Remote/Difficult Area Allowance, etc.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Extension of North-East incentive as per 6th pay commission and as extended to RBI employees in North-east/Sikkim
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Far-flung/difficult areas in Uttaranchal, Himachal/ J&K to be paid Special Area Allowance at par with Leh/Ladakh, etc.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
Hill allowance should be given to all Districts where State Governments are paying Hill Allowance.
(IBA agreed to discuss the matter during distribution of pay slip component)
All these issues though not exhaustive but needs redressal. This is without prejudice to our stand on MoU.” Unquote