OUTCOME OF SUB COMMITTEE MEET OF BANK UNIONS & IBA ON WORKMEN HELD TODAY(30th Jan)

As per information available,the meeting of subgroup on service conditions of workmen concluded to day. Leave rules, LFC, staff loans, disciplinary rules, Retired Employees  & ex-servicemen issue discussed. Talks remained inconclusive. 

                              Further talks to be resumed on 10th Feb.15. 

Full negotiating team of Bank Unions with IBA will meet on 3 Feb.15 to discuss quantum of wage rise. 

                              Details are awaited.

Submitted by Mohan.P

Bank D.A. for the next quarter (February to April'15)

JUST 2 SLABS INCREASE IN DA PAYABLE TO BANK WORKMEN/OFFICERS FOR NEXT QUARTER

FEB to APRIL 2015

The AICPIN (IW) Base 2001=100, for the month of December ’14, has been released by  Labour Bureau Govt of India, to day, which stood at 253 point which was static from last August 14.

As such, the confirmed All India average Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers (Base 1960=100) are as follows:

Months     CPI (Base 2001=100)         CPI (Base1960=100)

October                          253                 5774.95

November                      253                 5774.95

December’14.                253                 5774.95

The average CPI as above, is 5774.Therefore the DA payable to Bank Workmen/Officers for the quarter February ’15 to April’15 will show an increase of 2 slabs at 110.10 %(From existing 109.80%)
Hefty hike for pensioners
As such the average CPI as above is 5774.Therefore the DA payable to Bank Pensioners for the next half year ie: February ’15 to July’15, will show an increase of 51 slabs.

Central D.A. to be hiked by 6% from 1st January 2015

With the release of AICPIN number (Dec'14) by Labour Bureau, it is now confirmed that Central D.A. is going to be hiked by 6% from 01.01.2015 as expected and calculated in this blog earlier. 
The AICPIN number remained unchanged at 253. Click here for details.
The increase of D.A. will be cleared by the cabinet and formal order is likely to be issued within March 2015.

No change in CPI(IW) number for December 2014

Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers - CPI(IW) for the month of December 2014 remains unchanged at 253. Click here to view the press release.
The index number remained unchanged for the last five months from August 2014.
Click here to view the last 12 months' index number.

Medical Insurance scheme for central employees in stead of CGHS ?

The health ministry has moved a proposal for ending the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) in its current form and moving to an insurance-based scheme — the Central Government Employees and Pensioners Health Insurance Scheme (CGEPHIS) — in an apparent attempt to cut costs.

Instead of the government directly paying the medical bills of CGHS beneficiaries, the new scheme will be implemented through insurance companies registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority and selected through bidding.

Biometric Attendance : Mandatory for all employees

Department of Personnel & Training asked secretaries of all department to ensure that all employees to mark their attendance in biometric attendance system. It is observed that a large fraction of employees are not marking their attendance in the new format.
It is once again reminded that all employees in all offices are required to mark their attendance in Aadhar Based Biometric Attendance System.
Click here to view the latest O.M.

No LTC on travel by premium trains

DOPT clarified that travel by premium trains is not permissible on LTC and the fare charged by travel on premium trains is not reimbursable.
Those who have already performed journey by those premium trains on LTC, the train fare may be reimbursed restricted to the admissible normal fare.
Click here for the DOPT clarification.

7% dearness Allowance for Himachal employees

 Himachal Pradesh government today announced release of seven per cent additional dearness allowance to its employees with effect from July 1 last year.
Presiding over the meeting of Joint Consultative Committee of Non Gazetted Employees Federation, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the arrears of additional DA from July 2014 to March 2015 would be credited to the provident fund of the employees while it would be paid in cash from April 2015.

LTC to neighboring countries : Ministry of Civil Aviation nods.

The civil aviation ministry has given its nod to a proposal to provide leave travel concession for government employees to Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka to boost tourism in the region.

A senior official in the ministry confirming the development said, “The move is intended to boost tourism within SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries. Pakistan and Bangladesh has been left out for now because of security issues.”

The approval from the ministry of civil aviation was required so that the LTC can be availed of on national carrier Air India while flying to these countries.

Source : Financial Express

Bank wage : IBA fixed date for next bipartite meeting : 03.02.2015

Meeting of sub committee on charter  of demands on workmen to be held on 30th January 2015 at Mumbai.
Following which IBA managing committee will meet on 31st January and  next bipartite meeting with UFBU will take place at Mumbai on 3rd February 2015.
News Provided by Mr Mohan P.

New series of Consumer Price Index from next month

Centre to release new series of Consumer Price Index next month

For presenting a more accurate and realistic price situation, the government will release next month a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) with 2012 as base year for computing the retail inflation rate.

The first series (revised) would be compiled for January, which will be released on February 12.

From January, 2016, onwards, inflation rates would be compiled using the actual CPI of the revised series, according to an official release “Now the CSO is in the process of revising the Base Year from 2010=100 to 2012=100,” it said adding that with this (base) revision, the gap between Price Reference Year (Base Year) and the Weight Reference Year has been minimised. Apart from base revision, a number of methodological improvements have been introduced in the revised series. — PTI

Leaving warpath Bank unions prefer ministerial influence

A section of public sector bank employees unions yesterday met Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha to press for early wage revision. 

A meeting comes two day after the unions deferred their four-day strike that was to begin today as Indian Banks' Association (IBA) assured that wage issue will be resolved by the first week of February. 

National Organisation of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers, under the leadership of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh .(BMS), met Sinha and submitted the memorandum on the demands of the bank employees, said a statement by the unions. 

Bank Strike postponed, but on which assurance from IBA and when ?

Four days' proposed strike has been deferred (or withdrawn) after much drama. The decision made public only on yesterday but perhaps decided a week earlier. Based on a letter from IBA addressed to Convenor, UFBU dated 13.01.2015, IBA stated that after the managing committee meeting scheduled on 31st January, in which the developments will be discussed and after that next bipartite meeting will be held on first week of February 2015. IBA also expressed it's eagerness to conclude the process within 15th of next month.
As no other assurance came from IBA after this letter dated 13th January 2015, It is widely believed that UFBU called the meeting for face saving on 19th January at Mumbai and only confirmed IBA’s instructions  dated 13.01.2015.
Click here for IBA's letter to Convenor, UFBU, dated 13th Jan'15
(Letter reproduced from Bankingonly.com)
Click here for AIBOC Circular dated 20.01.2015

Bank strike deferred again

As expected and widely discussed, proposed four days' bank strike scheduled to commence on 21st January 2015 deferred. The decision of postponement, possibly decided well in advance but declared late yesterday by UFBU.
Following is the official news from All India bank Officers Association.

"4 DAYS STRIKE PUT ON HOLD AS IBA ASSURED TO RESOLVE THE WAGE ISSUE BY THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY. IF THERE IS NO SATISFACTORY OUTCOME FRESH DATES FOR 4/5 DAY'S STRIKE ACTION IN FEBRUARY WOULD BE ANNOUNCED. "

Four days' bank strike from January 21 : Confusion among bankers

Update : Bank strike deferred again.
Bank employees are in real confusion whether the proposed bank strike scheduled from 21st January to happen or not. After the deferment of strike on 7th January, there was news that the strike from 21st Jan is also postponed, but still now no notice of withdrawal has reached IBA so far. 
As the negotiation is on it is widely discussed that this strike will not take place.
"As there was no fresh proposal of hike from the side of IBA during this period, UFBU has decided to go ahead with the 4-day strike which will have the impact of 6 days as 25th is Sunday and 26th January is national holiday," Sharma added. 
Deepak Kumar Sharma is the state Secy of All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) 
As per sources, UFBU is yet to decide whether to go ahead with the proposed strike or not. We will update you as soon as some confirm news is available.

Bank Officers association meets IBA on 14th Jan 2015

The officers' association and representatives of IBA met on 14th January 2014 and the Officers association expressed their views of which IBA has shown positive attitude.
Following is the details as available in AIBOC Circular No 2015/04 dated 15.01.2015
"The subcommittee met on 14th January at 2.00 p.m. at IBA office, Mumbai.

Kerala increased 7% Dearness Allowance

The State Government has hiked the Dearness Allowance (DA) of government employees and pensioners by 7 per cent. With this, the total dearness allowance will increase to 80 per cent from the present 73 per cent of the basic pay.

Finance Minister K M Mani said that the new DA would have retrospective effect from July 2014.

Bank Bipartite : Sub Committees to start discussion today

Further to last round of 10th BPS negotiations with Indian Banks' Association( IBA ) by Bank Unions (United Forum Of Bank Unions)which held on 6th and 7th Jan15. instant, as agreed during the discussions, IBA has now fixed up the meetings of the Sub-Committees as under:

Sub-Group to discuss Charter of Demands of  Officers’ Associations	14th  January 2015 at 2.00 p.m.
Sub-Group on Proposed health insurance scheme in lieu of the existing  hospitalization  reimbursement scheme	19th January 2015 at 10.30 a.m.
Sub-Group to discuss Charter of Demands of  Workmen Unions	19th January 2015 at 2.30 p.m.

Source : Mr Mohan P.

Clarification reg. assets and liabilities under Lokpal Act and proforma

A detailed clarification with reference to the above has been issued by DOPT today. It is clarified that this declaration will be in addition to any declaration submitted as per relevant conduct rules. It means those require to furnish annual property statement will have to file this mandatory statement in addition to the already filed statement under CCS (Conduct) Rules.

Click here for the clarification and revised proforma

Biometric Attendance : Iris scanner to come in, departure may be from other building

Clearly in no mood to offer any let up in getting government officials to turn up for work in time, the Narendra Modi government is all set to install iris scanners alongside fingerprint reading machines in many central government offices just to ensure that no employee is left out of the purview of the Aadhaar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS).

The move, government officials said, is essentially aimed at ensuring that no government employee escapes marking attendance on the AEBAS just in case some of the wall mounted bio-metric attendance terminals are unable to read their fingerprints. Officials said there had been a some isolated cases where a few of these machines had reported glitches in recognising fingerprints of registered employees.

Delhi Govt. employees pay scale revised before election

In a move that has sparked political backlash, the NDA government on Monday approved a proposal of Delhi Government to revise the pay scales of Delhi Administration Subordinate Service (DASS).

"Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the proposal of Delhi Government to revise the pay scales of Delhi Administration Subordinate Service (DASS). Both the DASS and Steno cadre will be benefited by this decision," Principal Secretary (Services, Delhi government) Anindo Majumdar said.
Majumdar also said that as per the decision, pay scale of DASS Grade-II/Steno Grade-II has been revised from Rs 5000-8000 to Rs 5500-9000, adding that the decision will be effective notionally from January 1, 1996 and actually from December 12, 2006.

Good news for West Bengal employees : D.A. released from 01.01.2015

Order Issued
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday announced the much-awaited hike in Dearness Allowance for state government employees by seven percent with effect from January 1, this year.

The Chief Minister said that the government decided to increase the DA by 7 percent despite resource constraints.

She said that after she came to power there was a raise of 30 percent in DA, for which the government had to spend Rs 9,000 crore from the state exchequer.

"This 7 percent hike alone will cost Rs 2,100 crore," she said.
Click here for the order for State employees
Click here for the order for Teachers/Non teachers / Undertakings / Local bodies etc.

Bank bipartite likely to be concluded within February 2015 : Union

Proposed four days' strike also withdrawn
"....During the negotiations on 07th, UFBU once again insisted on IBA for further improving its offer, to which IBA expressed that they want some more time for discussion amongst themselves. To our demand that negotiations be held at regular intervals for arriving at a settlement without further delay, IBA responded positively and indicated its intention to conclude the process by the end of February 2015.

Tamil Nadu sanctions adhoc bonus for employees, prize for pensioners

Tamilnadu sanctioned special adhoc bonus to employees for the F.Y. 2013-14 . An amount of 30 days' emolument subject to maximum of Rs 3000/-.
Download the order dated 8.1.15
Govt. also sanctioned a "Pongal cash prize" for pensioners amounting Rs 500/-
Download the order dated 8.1.15

Update on Bank Wage negotiation between IBA & UFBU on 07.01.2015

As per available update with us, discussion continued today. UFBU insisted on wage hike over 12.5% as suggested by IBA. IBA wanted some more time to respond.
Sub committees formed to resolve other issues like Medical Benefits, 5 days' week, regulated banking hours, family pension issue etc.
Next date of meeting to be fixed soon. Details are awaited.

Proposed Bank strike of 7th January'15 deferred.

Outcome of today's(6th Jan) negotiations between IBA  and Bank Unions(UFBU)

 IBA improved the offer to 12.5% today. Talk will continue tomorrow.

 Proposed Bank strike of 7th January'15 deferred.

News Courtesy : Mr Mohan P 

Coal workers begin 5-day strike

 Trade unions across the country today began a five-day coal industry strike, which is likely to affect production of up to 1.5 million tonnes a day and fuel supply to power plants.

The strike call, for the biggest industrial action for any sector since 1977, has been given by the five leading trade unions of the country including BJP-backed Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS).

IBA TO HOLD TALKS WITH BANK UNIONS (UFBU) TOMORROW - 6th Jan15

OUT COME OF CLC MEET OF 5th JAN'15.

        In the conciliation meeting held today-5th Jan.15. by CLC at Delhi, IBA said it would hold negotiations with UFBU tomorrow at Mumbai to find amicable solution. UFBU agreed to attend the meeting. 

         Further course of action depends on the outcome of tomorrow's meeting with IBA. 

       Conciliation talks with CLC ended and IBA called UFBU to have a round of talks tomorrow06.1.2015 at Mumbai at 3.00 p.m.

  

Submitted By Mohan.P

Likely Bank D.A. from Feb'15 : No significant increase

On release of All India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers(AICPIN)IW Base year 2001=100

for the month of November '14,by Ministry of Labour and Employment,the confirmed index numbers remained static at 253 points since  August'14.

Bank Workmen and Officers DA for next quarter Feb, March and April  is arrived based on CPI numbers for the months of October, November and December14. Considering the lower  inflationary trend and reported reduction in prices of some commodities, if it is assumed that  the present level is continued in December'14,too the average CPI figure would be as furnished here under. Chances for decrease from the current level also cannot be ruled out.

Likely Central PSU (Including BSNL) IDA from 1.1.2015

The CPI (IW) for all the 3 months from September to November 2014 remained static at 253. The IDA increase with effect from 1.1.2015 will be 2.2%, i.e., a total of 100.3%.
The formal order is awaited and expected to be issued next week.

Media reports proposal of LTC to Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal for Central employees

Following PM Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal for the Saarc summit, the government is mulling a proposal to provide leave travel concession (LTC) for government employees to four countries — Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka — to boost tourism in the neighbourhood. The LTC will be modeled on the schemes for the north-east and J&K which helped increase tourism and fueled economic improvement in the two regions.