PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 16: A 48- hour bank strike began from today on the call of bank unions across the country protesting against privatisation of banks.
Bank employees under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions ( UFBU ) staged a dharna-and- demonstration in front of various public sector banks here in Sakchi, Bistupur and other places.
Convenor of UFBU’s local chapter Rintu Rajak said all banking-related work would be paralysed during the two-day strike.
” We are against privatisation of banks and Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill -2015,” he said while leading an agitation in Bistupur.
Agitating members of UFBU assembled at the Bistupur Postal Park this morning and raised slogans against privatisation.
People faced difficulties due to the bank strike.
” I was supposed to transfer money through RTGS from State Bank of India’s Golmuri branch to my father staying in Delhi, but could not do because of the bank strike,” said Anil Anand, a resident of Agrico in Jamshedpur.
Sources said the ATMs of some of the banks were expected to run dry from this evening.
The UFBU members carried out a series of dharna and demonstrations in different places across the city as a run-up to the two-day strike.