Striking workers of India's largest bank Tuesday vowed to continue with their nationwide indefinite strike demanding revision in a pension scheme, badly affecting financial services across the country.
Union leaders said over 200,000 officers and workers of the State Bank of India (SBI) from over 9,000 branches stayed away from work for the second consecutive day.
"The strike is continuing very well all across the country. No work is being transacted in any part of the country," said Umesh Nayak, president of the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation.
The All India State Bank Officers Federation and All India State Bank of India Staff Federation are spearheading the nationwide agitation.
"We will continue with the strike till all our demands are met by the government. We have been waiting for the revision in the pension scheme for the last 14 years," Nayak told IANS.
The striking workers said the pension ceiling had been kept unchanged at Rs.4,250 a month based on the salary structure of 1992. Although salaries were revised in 1997 and 2002, the pension ceiling had not been hiked.
The workers are demanding 50 percent of the last drawn salary as pension.
The union leader said representatives of SBI workers would hold "conciliatory talks" with the chief labour commissioner Wednesday in New Delhi to find an early settlement.
"We understand the inconvenience being caused to people because of the strike but there was no other option. The government has been ignoring our demand for so long," said Nayak.
According to Nayak, the country's financial system will take a hit of as much as Rs.20 billion (nearly $450 million) per day as a result of the strike by the workers of the public sector banking giant.
In Mumbai, India's financial capital, SBI branches wore a deserted look. All transactions were badly crippled. Noisy demonstrations were held at some places.
The strike has badly affected hundreds of thousands of salaried employees as scores of state and government enterprises disburse the monthly salaries through SBI.
"I was not aware of this strike. I came here to withdraw my salary and was sent back as no official was available in the branch," said a harried public sector employee, Mukund Shah.
"Even the ATMs have run out of money and they have not been replenished. I don't know how I will manage my household expenses in the coming days if the strike doesn't end soon," he said.
State government employees in Kerala towns were also affected because their salaries are routed through SBI branches.
"So far there has been no public outpouring of anger against the strike. One reason is that all customers with an ATM card can withdraw money from any of the SBI's associated banks," said a Kerala official.
Union leaders said over 200,000 officers and workers of the State Bank of India (SBI) from over 9,000 branches stayed away from work for the second consecutive day.
"The strike is continuing very well all across the country. No work is being transacted in any part of the country," said Umesh Nayak, president of the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation.
The All India State Bank Officers Federation and All India State Bank of India Staff Federation are spearheading the nationwide agitation.
"We will continue with the strike till all our demands are met by the government. We have been waiting for the revision in the pension scheme for the last 14 years," Nayak told IANS.
The striking workers said the pension ceiling had been kept unchanged at Rs.4,250 a month based on the salary structure of 1992. Although salaries were revised in 1997 and 2002, the pension ceiling had not been hiked.
The workers are demanding 50 percent of the last drawn salary as pension.
The union leader said representatives of SBI workers would hold "conciliatory talks" with the chief labour commissioner Wednesday in New Delhi to find an early settlement.
"We understand the inconvenience being caused to people because of the strike but there was no other option. The government has been ignoring our demand for so long," said Nayak.
According to Nayak, the country's financial system will take a hit of as much as Rs.20 billion (nearly $450 million) per day as a result of the strike by the workers of the public sector banking giant.
In Mumbai, India's financial capital, SBI branches wore a deserted look. All transactions were badly crippled. Noisy demonstrations were held at some places.
The strike has badly affected hundreds of thousands of salaried employees as scores of state and government enterprises disburse the monthly salaries through SBI.
"I was not aware of this strike. I came here to withdraw my salary and was sent back as no official was available in the branch," said a harried public sector employee, Mukund Shah.
"Even the ATMs have run out of money and they have not been replenished. I don't know how I will manage my household expenses in the coming days if the strike doesn't end soon," he said.
State government employees in Kerala towns were also affected because their salaries are routed through SBI branches.
"So far there has been no public outpouring of anger against the strike. One reason is that all customers with an ATM card can withdraw money from any of the SBI's associated banks," said a Kerala official.
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