Banking services hit in Orissa as employees go on strike

Banking services across Orissa on Thursday badly affected with members of United Forum of Banks Unions boycotted their work and joined a nation wide two-day long strike.

The UFBU forced to boycott work after the failure of their conciliation proceedings with India Bank Association (IBA) on the issue of increase in wages and other issues.

Banking transaction over Rs 300 crores have been affected due to the strike, official sources said. Bank officials and employees however held a demonstration here demanding various issues.

State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and Kanara Bank were among those major banks in total of nine banks, joined the strike and stop work.

"Unless, until firm commitments are given to us, we will not call off the agitation," said a member of UFBU.

He criticised the Indian Bank Association (IBA) for its tough stance and hoped that good sense would prevail on both the Government and IBA after strike.

Meanwhile, security guards had to explain at most of the public sector banks, when a customer approaches the banks in the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack .

The only respite was that ATMs but in many places, it was also closed while other transactions like cheque encashment, demand draft could not possible through out the day.