Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Mar 15: Bank employees of Dakshina Kannada district began their two-day strike as per the call given by United Forum of Bank Union (UFBU), an umbrella body of nine bank unions, condemning the announcement of privatization of two banks of public sector and one insurance company.

The protesters gathered near the Balmatta Circle in the city on the morning of Monday March 15 and raised slogans against the union government. They also held protest in front of mini Vidhana Soudha in the city. Customers of the banks are facing inconvenience because of two-day strike of the bank employees.

More than 2,000 employees throughout the district are participating in the protest. This protest will continue on Tuesday, March 16 also. Services such as deposits and withdrawal at branches, cheque clearance, and loan approvals are affected due to the strike. However, ATMs are likely to remain functional.

It may be recalled, the UFBU called for a two-day nationwide strike on March 15 and 16 against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks and retrograde banking reforms.

Over 10 lakh bank employees and officers will participate in the strike.

All nine banks unions namely All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO) and the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) are part of the strike called by the UFBU.