IDBI claims strike failed, unions say near success

Mumbai: Even as unions of state-run IDBI Bank today claimed a successful one-day strike, the management said the bank "functioned normally".

The strike was called by two unions - United Forum of IDBI Bank Officers and Employees (UFIOE) and United Platform of IDBI Bank Unions (UPIBU)- to protest against the government plans to turnaround the heavily loss-making bank by handing over the management to private sector.

The bank claimed that none of their services were disrupted following the nationwide strike except in Karnataka, where the High Court has asked unions not to go on strike.

"All banking services like front-office services, back-office operations including cheque clearing, remittances, RTGS/NEFT, transaction banking services, treasury operations have been functioning normally," IDBI Bank said in a statement.

But the unions gave a different picture.

"The strike was a grand success. All the offices and branches of the bank remained closed today," UFIOE, which called for a one-day strike, said in a statement.

Employees and officers affiliated to UPIBU have called for a four-day strike.

"Today, almost 85 per cent of the officers and 100 per cent of employees were on strike. Our strike will continue for three more days," an office bearer of UPIBU said.