Concentrate on Larger issue of Periodical Upgradation.....G N S says.

Our pensioner friends will appreciate that it is worthwhile we keep ourselves abreast of what is happening to others,particularly  in the Banking sector,since whether we like or not it is the policy of the govt (Fin.ministry) to club insurance with banking in the matter of emoluments of employees including pensioners.This being election time it becomes all the more necessary. I would therefore like to share with you all the following information I have. (Let us all remember that judiciary will not interfere with policy decisions of the executive)

1) In the latest round of talks held on 18th inst with IBA in connection with the impending 11th Bi-partite wage settlement the representative organisations of Bank employees had reportedly made as one of their demands - 'updation of pensions of all retirees at a common index point as would be applicable under the 11th settlement'. The reaction of the IBA is reported as "would be studied for consideration". ( it is hoped that final deceision on this and their other demands may perhaps come about when the election atmosphere gets more heated up!!)

2) A memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister by a super apex body of five national level organisations of Bank retirees including SBI along with AIRBEA sometime in the month of Dec 2018 itself. In the said memorandum one of the main demands relates to 100% neutralisation on DR.While projecting it the memorandum states as follows :- '100 % neutralisation to similarly placed pensioners is made available to the pensioners of RBI & LIC.Hence denial to a small section of Bank pensioners is beyond comprehension' .This statement would reveal how the order of  the DHC in our case is perceived by Banking circles.( In fact I have come across some internal communications of Bank retirees' organisation conveying similar views and complementing us for achieving something to our pre 97 retirees.

( It must be known to all that on 100% DR issue the Bank pensioners are faced with a totally negative verdict from SC in United bank retirees'case .Their review petition was summarily dismissed and the curative petition is hanging)

Arising out of what I have stated at 2 above I feel it would pay us to simply put up with whatever happens in the feb hearing of our case or later till at least the elections are over so that status quo on our litigation is not disturbed but instead stop canvassing any further on DR anamoly/pre 97 issue and concentrate on the larger and important issue of securing an arrangement for periodical upgradation in sync with successive wage revision for in-service people.

Let me hope there will be takers for my views!!

With Greetings to all --

 GN Sridharan