9 th Bipartite Wage Negotiations Common Charter of Demands

1. 9th Bipartite Wage NegotiationsCommon Charter of Demands AIBEA – NCBE – BEFI – INBEF – NOBW

2. Introduction Wages and other service conditions of the Bank Employees have a history of evolution of more than six decades. To begin with Sen Tribunal was the first attempt to provide an Industry Level structure of Pay Scales and allowances as well as other conditions of service of Bank Employees. This was in the year 1950. Unfortunately this was struck down on technical grounds. Then the issue went to Sastry Tribunal and its Award was published in 1953. This was followed by the Desai Tribunal in 1962. However the era of Tribunalisation got ended with the ushering in of Industry Level Bipartite Agreement in 1966. This journey of bilateralism has continued for more than 40 years and during this period, eight wage revision Settlements have been successfully achieved besides Settlements on Pension, Computerisation, etc. and host of supplementary Settlements on various Service Conditions.

3. Introduction Thus the present Pay Scales and Service Conditions of Bank Employees have a unique history. These Bipartite Settlements not only reflects the aspirations and genuine demands of the Bank Employees, but have also taken care of the varying needs on the Bank Managements and administrative re-quirements. That is why these Bipartite Settlements have stood the test of time.

4. Introduction In the present context when the Banks are passing through a crucial phase and are required to face the emerging challenges, there is a great expectation on the staff working in the Banks from the Customers and the Managements and from the Government. The profile of work in the banks is undergoing drastic changes and is bound to be more so in the coming years. Hence Banking Job has to be tailored to suit the changing scenario. This consequently also requires adequate improvements in the emoluments of the staff. In this background of requirements and expect-ations, we have formulated the Common Charter of Demands.

5. Basic Pay • Increase/Revision of Basic Pay by merger of D.A. payable at average Index for the Quarter July-September 2007. • After merger, new Pay Scales to be arrived at by adding 40% to Clerical Staff and 45% to Subordinate Staff. • 10 Stagnation increments – once in 2 years for both Clerical & Subordinate Staff. • Fitment on Stage to Stage basis.

6. Basic Pay • Present Pay Scale – Clerks • 4410 – 215 – 5055 – 335 – 6060 – 470 – 7940 – 500 – 9440 – 560 – 11680 – 970 – 12650 – 560 – 13210 (20 years) • Present Pay Scale – Subordinate Staff • 4060 – 105 – 4270 – 115 – 4500 – 135 – 4770 – 165 – 5265 – 195 – 6045 – 235 – 6750 – 270 – 7560 (20 years)

7. Basic Pay • Average Consumer Price Index for the Quarter July-September 2007 is 3028 points • D.A. Slabs proposed to be Merged is 185 • Percentage of D.A. proposed to be Merged is 33.30% • Additional loading factor after merger for Clerical Staff – 40% • Additional loading factor after merger for Subordinate Staff – 45%

8. Basic Pay Basis – Clerical (Example) That is Rs.100.00 will become Rs.186.60

9. Basic Pay Basis – Subordinate Staff (Example) That is Rs.100.00 will become Rs.193.30

10. Basic Pay • Proposed Pay Scale – Clerks • 8230 – 405 – 9435 – 625 – 11310 – 880 – 14830 – 935 – 17635 – 1045 – 21815 – 1810 – 23625 – 1045 – 24670 (20 years) • Proposed Pay Scale – Subordinate Staff • 7850 – 205 – 8260 – 225 – 8710 – 265 – 9240 – 320 – 10200 – 380 – 11720 – 455 – 13085 – 525 – 14660 (20 years)

11. Basic Pay • Minimum and Maximum – Clerks • Pay Scale • Present – 4410 – 13210 (20 years) • Proposed – 8230 – 24670 (20 years) • Increment • Present – 215 – 560 • Proposed – 405 – 1045

12. Basic Pay • Minimum and Maximum – Subordinate • Pay Scale • Present – 4060 – 7560 (20 years) • Proposed – 7850 – 14660 (20 years) • Increment • Present – 105 – 270 • Proposed – 205 – 525

13. Basic Pay • Stagnation Increments - Clerks • Present – Six increments of Rs.560/- each at frequencies of three years • Proposed – Ten increments of Rs.1045/- each at frequencies of two years • Stagnation Increments – Subordinate Staff • Present – Six increments of Rs.270/- each at frequencies of two years • Proposed – Ten increments of Rs.525/- each at frequencies of two years

14. Dearness Allowance • Same D.A. formula to continue • 100% compensation at all stages shall be paid for every rise or fall of 4 points over 3028 points in the quarterly average of the All India average for Industrial Workers Consumer Price Index (Base 1960 = 100) • D.A. Rate – Present – 0.18% per slab over 2288 points • D.A. Rate – Proposed – 0.14% per slab over 3028 points

15. House Rent Allowance • H.R.A. to be paid at the same rate on the revised Pay. • Leased Accommodation to employees. • Payment of HRA on Capital Cost/Rent Receipt basis upto 150% of normal entitlement • Where accommodation is provided by Bank to employees residing in Bank’s quarters/ Project Areas, no recovery to be done from salary. Difference in HRA after reducing the standard rent should be paid to such employees. • Payment of HRA in branches in SEZ/NEZ/EPZ to be made at par with Project Areas.

16. House Rent Allowance Present Rates: Same Rates to continue on revised Pay

17. House Rent Allowance For Clerks: @ 8.5%, 7.5%, 6.5% and 6.0%

18. House Rent Allowance For Subordinate Staff: @ 8.5%, 7.5%, 6.5% and 6.0%

19. City Compensatory Allowance • Same percentage of CCA on revised Basic Pay. • Revised ceiling of minimum and maximum on CCA. • Changes in the definition of CCA Centers: • Higher Centers – 10 Lakhs and above + Goa. • Lower Centers – 2 Lakhs + State Capitals, Chandigarh, Port Blair, Pondicherry.

20. City Compensatory Allowance

21. Special Pay • Same increase as Basic Pay • Educational Qualification Pay (EQP), Professional Qualification Pay (PQP) and Fixed Personnel Pay (FPP) to be revised on the same basis • For Substaff – Additional increment for additional qualifications

22. Special Pay

23. Transport Allowance • To be increased to Rs.1000/- per month – or • Reimbursement of Petrol cost upto 25 Liters per month

24. Medical Aid & Hospitalisation • Increase in Annual Medical Aid to Rs.3000 • Improvements in Hospitalisation Expenses Reimbursement Scheme • “Family” definition to be enlarged • Increase in income limit to determine dependency

25. Medical Aid & Hospitalisation • 100% reimbursement of actual expenses to employees and family members • Enlargement of treatments covered under Domiciliary treatment

26. Medical Aid & Hospitalisation • Coverage of new treatments wherein surgery is done without admission as in-patient • All recognised Alternative Medicine streams to be covered

27. Medical Aid & Hospitalisation • Revision / enlargement under Package charges scheme • All pathological investigation tests as prescribed by the Doctor/Hospital to be covered for reimbursement

28. Leave Fare Concession • Liberalisation/improvement in Class of Travel, Mode of Travel, Distance, Periodicity, Option of Blocks, etc. • In case of employees working in North Eastern States, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshwadeep Islands, Air Fare upto the main land Airports to be reimbursed additionally • Income criteria for dependents to be suitably revised

29. Leave Fare Concession

30. Leave Rules • Improvements in Leave Rules, conditions, etc. • Special sick leave to women employees for specific gynecological ailments/treatments within overall entitlement of maternity leave

31. Other Allowances Adequate increase of all existing allowances and improvements and additions

32. Loans & Advances Improvement to quantum of Staff Housing Loan / Vehicle Loan and reduction in rate of interest and increase in Festival Advance

33. Superannuation Benefits • PF at 12% of Pay and DA • Gratuity at one month Pay for each completed year of service – Maximum of 30 months • Updation of Pension of past retirees and improvements in Pension Scheme • Extension of para 368 of Sastry Award to Pension optees

34. Part Time Employees • All part-time employees on consolidated wages to be appointed on Scale Wages • Reimbursement of hospitalisation expenses and LFC at par with full time employees • Scheme for elevation to full time • Pension to be paid on total service and not on pro-rata

35. Disciplinary action and procedure • Improvement in subsistence allowance • Punishments not to be implemented until disposal of appeal • Deletion of certain clauses of settlement dated 10-Apr-2002 which are being misused

36. Special provision for North Eastern States, Ladak, Leh and other areas Improvements in Special Area Allowance payable in North Eastern States and other difficult areas to be at par with Central Government employees

37. Other Demands • No contract labour to be engaged • No outsourcing of Banks’ regular, routine, permanent jobs • Regularisation of all temporary, casual, outsourced and contractual employees

38. Other Demands • Deletion of para 522(1) of Sastry Award • Modification of para 535 and 536 of Sastry Award • Extending Medical Aid and LFC to retired employees • Introduction of 5 Day Week

39. Other Demands • Allocation for Staff Welfare Schemes should be increased to 5% of Net Profit and without any upper ceiling • Introduction of intra-cadre career progression scheme for clerical and substaff

40. Date of Effect 1st November, 2007

41. Negotiations to conclude within three months. • Unions reserves the right to alter, amend, delete and add to the above demands.

42. Thank You • All India Bank Employees’ Association • National Confederation of Bank Employees • Bank Employees’ Federation of India • Indian National Bank Employees’ Federation • National Organisation of Bank Workers