Around five lakh bank employees and officers in banks will join the All India General Strike on September 2, 2016 to protest against the Central Government's anti-people economic policies and anti-worker labour reforms.

Employees and officers working in various public sector banks, private banks, foreign banks, regional rural banks and co-operative banks will join the strike.

C H Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) at the National Trade Union Convention organised by the Central Trade Unions, a call for National General Strike on September 2, 2016 was given against various policies and proposals of the Government.

As far as banking sector is concerned, the government is continuing its attempt to push through their reforms agenda aimed at privatisation of banks, consolidation and merger of Banks, etc.

RBI has announced 'on tap' bank licensing policy to allow more and more private banks. Licenses have been given to big corporate houses to start 'Small Banks' and 'Payment Banks'. More and more private capital and FDI are being encouraged.

Associate Banks and other Public sector banks are sought to be merged on the plea that they are small and hence not viable. But Corporates are being given license to start Small Banks, said Venkatachalam.

Banks are sought to closed in the name of mergers and consolidation. Efficient and well-performing Associate Banks are sought to be closed and merged with SBI.

Bad loans have increased alarmingly to the extent of Rs 13 lakh crore. Instead of taking tough measures to book the culprits and recover the money, more and more concessions are being given to the defaulters.

"In the name of 'cleaning Balance Sheets', all these huge bad loans are sought to be taken out of public glare to silently write them off. On an average about Rs. 50,000 crore of bad loans are being written off per year," said Venkatachalam.

He alleged, Centre is amending laws giving unfettered rights to corporate to hire and fire workers and stripping the workers of their trade union rights. #CASANSAAR (Business Standard)