BPBEA to go on three-day ATM strike this month

In Bengal the ATMs will remain closed for three days as the Bengal Provincial Bank Employees' Association will be going on strike three-day ATM strike later this month. For three days people will have to stand in long queues to withdraw money.

The Association is demanding for minimum wages notification by the Centre and eight-hours-a-day work for ATM contract employees. It has decided to shutdown on May 17, 28 and 29. The ATMs of 14 PSU banks, including SBI, and five private sector banks are under purview of the strike.

The banks that will be affected include Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, PNB, Allahabad Bank, Central Bank, Union Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, United Bank of India, UCO Bank, Andhra Bank, Vijaya Bank, Bank of Rajasthan, Yes Bank, Federal Bank and Karur Vysya Bank. These banks have over 2,000 ATMs across the state and have over 4,000 contract employees.

Earlier BPBEA had observed a strike in ATMs of five PSU banks on February 12 this year. BPBEA general secretary Rajen Nagar told that in spite of assurances, most of the PSU banks and some private banks have not revised the wages of ATM contract employees. He added, "We know customers will suffer because of the strike but we have no other option".

He further said, "ATM contract employees in other banks get Rs 2,000-3,000, which is lower than the subsistence wage. The working hours are longer than the stipulated hours. This cannot go on indefinitely".