Association of Officers of UCO Bank
(Registered under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926)
Affiliated to All India UCO Bank Officers’ Federation, an affiliate unit of AIBOC)
Regd. Office: 10, B. T. M. Sarani Post Box No.2891 Kolkata – 700001
E-mail :
Ref.: Circular/ 92 / 2009-12 Date: 22.12.2011
TO ALL MEMBERS
Sub: I-R Meeting on 20.12.2010
Comrade,
We reproduce hereunder text of Circular No.19/2009-12 dated 21.12.2010 on the above issued by General Secretary, All India Bank Officers’ Federation, for information of all concerned.
Comradely yours,
Sd/
Mohammad Nasiruddin
General Secretary
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Quote
An apex level IR Meeting was held on December 20, 2010 between Bank and our Federation. After prolonged discussion on 60 issues, the minutes were signed and exchanged.
We enclose a copy of the said minutes for information of all concerned. SD/-
S Roy Choudhury
General Secretary
MINUTES OF IR MEETING BETWEEN THE BANK MANAGEMENT AND ALL INDIA UCO BANK OFFICERS’ FEDERATION HELD ON 20TH DECEMBER, 2010 AT HEAD OFFICE, KOLKATA
At the outset, while welcoming the representatives of the Officers’ Federation, the General Manager(HRM) pointed out that under Officers Service Regulations, Promotion Policy and Transfer Policy have been framed. Whereas, the Bank’s Transfer Policy is having some restrictive clauses as under :
· Officers posted out of their Zone/State go back to their parent/domicile zone after completion of three years.
· Movement of Officers take place from surplus to deficit Zones and in such cases Officers in deficit Zones always remain in their parent Zones whereas the Officers in surplus zones are transferred again and again.
· For a scale-wise inter-zone movement of Officers, first the newly promoted Officers are transferred on the basis of their longest continuous stay and if the number of transfers required from a Zone exceed the number of newly promoted Officers, then the remaining transfers are done out of other Officers in specific scales. As such, promotion becomes a discouraging factor for Officers as out of Zone transfer is almost inevitable whereas the Officers who are not taking promotion remain comfortable.
· As per present Policy, Zonal Managers are to make reference to Head Office in making any change in the posting of Officers before three years.
While reacting to management views on necessity to change the Transfer Policy, Shri S Roy Choudhury, General Secretary said that the Transfer Policy of our Bank is one of the best in the Industry. However, changes required, if any, for the betterment of Bank and Officer community should be discussed with the majority Officers’ Organisation in separate meeting for review of the existing Policy.
The General Manager stressed the need for revisiting the aforesaid policies so that the impediments often experienced in course of implementation are removed. Federation informed that they are ready to revisit these policies in a separate meeting whereby other restrictive clauses,if any would also be revisited.
Thereafter, the discussion started on the issues submitted by the Officers’ Federation.
SL NO / ISSUES AS SUBMITTRED BY ALL INDIA UCO BANK OFFICERS’ FEDERATION / BANK’S STAND1 / Branches without any support of Workmen Staff / The Bank has initiated direct recruitment of 1000 clerks spread over 23 States and 4 UTs. The newly recruited clerks will be provided to the needy branches which require immediate support of clerical staff. The Bank has also initiated the process of manpower audit to assess manpower requirements in various branches/offices and further action will be taken in this regard.
2 / Promotion from Clerical to Officers’ cadre for manning computerised branches / CBS has already been rolled over in all the branches. In the meantime, Bank has declared vacancies for promotion from Clerical Cadre to JMG-I and the process is on.
3 / Acute Shortage of Officer / Apart from promotions from Clerk to JMGS-I, Bank has initiated fresh recruitment of 1050 POs. The Bank has also initiated the following recruitment exercises.
1. 50 Specialist Management Executives in MMGS-III
2. 300 officers through Campus Recruitment -100 CAs in MMGS-III from ICAI and 200 MBA Finance in MMGS-II from different B- Schools.
4 / Serious Erosion in Officer Strength in JMGS-I / Already covered in point No. 3.
5 / Manpower Assessment : Revised Strength of Officers/ Executives at Zonal Offices / The Bank has initiated the process of manpower audit to assess manpower requirements in various branches/offices
6 / Posting of Executive Assistants. / Bank is not agreeing to the issue. However, wherever required Officer in JMGS-I may be posted as Executive Assistants.
7 / Placement of CTO B at CBS branches. / Bank is taking steps for implementation of Single Window Operators in different branches and Zonal Offices have been given necessary instructions.
8 / Deregulated working hours. / As per Officers’ Service Regulations (Reg. 48) every officer shall be available for Bank’s duty at any time of the day. Therefore, the issue is beyond the purview of OSR. The Officers’ Federation pointed out that in many other Banks provisions have been made to adequately compensate the Officers who are to stay back on regular basis beyond Office hours and on Sundays and Holidays. The concern expressed by the Federation was noted and the matter will be examined further.
9 / Filling up of vacancies in Cash Department - The Federation requested the Bank for filling up posts in Cash Department in terms of categorization of posts which has been approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors: Violation of Board Decision. / The Federation pointed out that as per categorization norms, branches which are having business of Rs. 15 crores and above should be provided with Officers as In-charge of Cash Department and such branches should not be given for posting of Head Cashiers in violation of the existing Policy.
The Management noted the views expressed by the Federation and informed that the matter will be examined.
10 / Clean Note Policy – system & procedures / Matter will be taken up with the Operations and Services Department for implementation of Clean Note Policy in a rationale way
11 / Currency Chests- Providing proper manpower infrastructure & training on detection of fake notes and provision of Note Sorting Machines as per RBI Standard. / RBI instructions will be followed and necessary infrastructure and required manpower will be provided to all Currency Chests.
12 / RBI Scheme of incentives and penalties for currency chests – Inadequate manpower / Same as 11 above
13 / Sharing of the contents of the confidential reports : government guidelines / The matter will be examined in the light of Govt. guidelines.
14 / (i) Arbitrary Role of the Disciplinary/ Appellate Authority
(ii) Induced Order passed by the Appellate Authority in violation of Guidelines on Vigilance Management / Disciplinary / Appellate Authorities award punishment as per Discipline & Appeal Regulations.
15 / Problems of CBS Branches and resolution of pending issues requiring immediate attention. / The Federation pointed out that the CBS system is not fully utilized by Bank and there is no support system available at Zonal level for effective utilization of CBS. They also pointed out problems of connectivity at various places and suggested that alternative channels should be made available for smooth functioning without any disruption. They requested the Bank that the Joint Committee formed for discussing the problems of CBS branches and their resolution should not be discontinued. The management informed that Help Desk has already been put into place at several places for providing solutions to the problems arising out of CBS implementation. The Federation was informed that the problems related to CBS implementation highlighted by them shall be forwarded to HO, DIT for examination and necessary action. The Management agreed to consider continuance of meetings of the Joint Committee.
16 / Serious Systematic Fault in CBS: Customers’ Interest in Insecurity / Matter will be taken up with HO, DIT.
17 / Removal of Fitment Anomaly in 1997, 2001, 2003 & 2006 and payment of arrears / Bank has implemented the guidelines received from IBA. However, the matter will be re-examined.
18 / (i) Provision of Bank’s car to all AGMs
(ii) Matching Fuel Reimbursement to Scale IV & above. / i) The matter will be examined.
ii) The matter is under consideration
19 / Demand for improvement in individual HBL for employees of Bank / The matter is under consideration.
20 / Performance Based Cash Incentive Scheme 2007-08 / The matter is under consideration.
21 / Incentives from Life Insurance Corporation of India / The matter is under consideration in light of the Govt. guidelines.
22 / Request for Waiver of Commission on issuance of Bank Guarantee favouring Employers on behalf of Wards of Officers / The matter will be examined.
23 / Review of Entertainment Expenses Reimbursement Scheme / The matter will be reviewed after April, 2011 at the time of review of Scheme for reimbursement of Business Development Expenses to Branch Heads.
24 / Revision of cost of Newspapers for Officers / The matter is under consideration.
25 / Payment of Closing Allowance to Officers working in Administrative Offices / The issue will be examined.
26 / Canteen subsidy for Officers’ Canteen at Head Office at India Exch. Place building / The Bank has agreed to increase subsidy from Rs. 40/- to Rs. 150/- per month per head. Federation requested to implement the decision of earlier IR meetings to bring parity in Canteen subsidy to Officers’ Canteen
27 / Gross discrimination while awarding additional increments to new generation officers / The Bank noted the concern of the Federation. However, the matter will be examined afresh.
28 / Request for Payment of additional increment(s) to those directly recruited Officers who passed CAIIB Examination in their erstwhile employment before joining our Bank from the date of joining. / Matter is already resolved.
29 / a) Pampering of minority Union
i) Patna Zone
ii) Raipur Zone
iii) Ajmer Zone
iv) New Delhi Zone
b) Gross Acts of Indiscipline–New Delhi Zone / Bank does not pamper any minority union(s) and the allegations are denied. However, specific cases referred to will be examined and corrected.
Detailed report from ZO, New Delhi shall be obtained and steps will be taken accordingly.
30 / Violation of Regulation 18(2) of Officers' Service Regulations, 1979 as amended & Promotion Policy for Officers Federation letter No.Mg/20/2009-12 dated 12.01.10 / The matter has been decided as per the Govt. guidelines. Federation submitted that implementation of Govt. guidelines is in violation of OSR. The subordinate legislation which was not amended.
31 / Frauds in CBS Environment : Bank's failure to take measures
Federation letter No.Mg/49/2009-12 dated 05.04.10 / Matter will be referred to HO, DIT for necessary action.
32 / Jaipur Zone : Notification for filling up of posts of Head Cashier at branches in violation of extant policy guidelines of Bank. Our letter No.Mg/50/2009-12 dated 22.04.10 / The matter has already been discussed under item No. 9.
33 / Chennai Zone - Tremendous Hardship to Officers in newly opened branches. Federation letter No.Mg/54/2009-12 dated 24.04.10 / The Newly opened branches have already been provided with clerical staff.
34 / Permanent absorption of Officers appointed under Contractual Employment. Federation letter No.Mg/57A/2009-12 dated 05.05.10 / The Bank did not agree. However,
when Notification is issued for direct recruitment, contractual Officers are allowed to apply subject to their eligibility.
35 / Abuse and virtual manhandling of Shri Naveen Kapur, Asst. Manager, Janakpuri Br., New Delhi by Shri S S Sachdeva, Sr. Manager of the Br. Federation letter No.Mg/66/2009-12 dated 23.06.2010. / As decided in 29(b)
36 / Posting of Officers in Bank's Van Mobile Bank Federation letter No.Mg/77/2009-12 dated 21.07.10 / The suggestions given by the Federation will be considered.
37 / Security aspect concerning Mobile Bank. Federation letter No.Mg/78/2009-12 dated 21.07.10 / Same as Point No. 36
38 / Patna Zone : Gross Irregularities in recent Intra-Zone Transfer Exercise to Promote & Pamper Minority Officers' Organization. Federation letter No.Mg/80/2009-12 dated 22.07.10 / Same as Point No. 29(a)(i)
39 / Ranchi Zone : Discrimination & Violation of Transfer Policy by the Zonal Manager, Ranchi in order to Pamper & Promote Minority Union. Federation letter No.Mg/81/2009-10 dated 27.07.10 / The matter was examined at our end and necessary permission was granted as per policy
40 / Change in policy approach in Inspection assignment and our demand. Federation letter No.Mg/85/2009-12 dated 12.08.10 / The matter has been examined and it has been observed that certain Officers were deputed to Patna FI purely for temporary period for specific assignment.
41 / One more option for Pension to employees who were in service any time prior to 29th September 1995 and could not opt for pension earlier and now may opt for Pension in terms of industry-level settlement/understanding arrived at on 27th April 2010 between Associations and Unions and IBA. Federation letter No.Mg/87/2009-12 dated 27.08.10 / The matter is under examination and decision will be taken.
42 / Fraud at Budharaja Br, Sambalpur : Discriminatory Suspension of Shri P K Mishra, Manager of the Br. Federation letter No.Mg/94/2009-12 dated 30.9.10 / The matter will be examined.
43 / Fraud Committed at Sector-5 Br, Sambalpur Zone, Shri M K Swain, the then Manager, Rajgangpur (Main) Br: No action taken by Bank. Federation letter No.Mg/95/2009-12 dated 30.09.10 / Concern expressed by the Federation has been noted and necessary action will be taken in the matter.
44 / Problems of CBS Branches: Violation of IRM Decision . Federation letter No.Mg/62/2009-12 dated 28.05.2010 / Bank agreed to consider convening Joint Committee meeting.
45 / Abrupt Discontinuance of Joint Committee Meeting: Violation of IRM Decision. Federation letter No.Mg/99/2009-12 dated 20.10.2010 / Joint meeting will be initiated afresh.
The aforesaid decisions are subject to approval of competent authority.
SUPPLEMENTARY LIST
SL NO / ISSUES AS SUBMITTRED BY ALL INDIA UCO BANK OFFICERS’ FEDERATION / BANK’S STAND1 / Soft Loan for Retired Employees and Officers and family Members of Deceased Officers/Employees to mobilize the required amount to join Pension Scheme / Matter is under consideration
2 / Pension : Addition to Qualifying Services in Special circumstance for security Officers / Matter has already been examined and reply given to the Federation
3 / Hon’ble Court’s Judgment pointing out Bank’s wrongful interpretations of OSR to withhold gratuity and leave encashment in respect of Officers, who have been awarded penalty of Compulsory Retirement / We are following Gratuity rules and IBA guidelines. However, the matter will be examined.
4 / Back ground paper submitted by the Committee of Experts to review/expedite Disciplinary/Vigilance proceedings : Holistic views to be taken by CVC / The matter will be studied and necessary steps will be taken in the light of Govt. guidelines.
5 / Background paper submitted by the Committee of Experts to review/expedite Disciplinary/Vigilance proceedings : (1) Appointment of Retired Officers as Defence Assistant ; (2) Withdrawal of Restrictions on no. of cases to be handled by EO, PO & DA / As in point No. 4
6 / Fraud at Budharaja Branch, Sambalpur : discriminatory Suspension of Shri PK Mishra, Manager of the Branch / Already discussed under point No.42
7 / Zonal Leave IRMs / The matter will be examined and suitable instructions will be given to ZOs.
8 / Arbitrary restrictions imposed on Defence Assistant to handle more than two Disciplinary cases at a time / The matter will be examined in view of Regulations.
9 / Lateral Recruitment of Officers in MMGS-II and above – sanction of additional increment(s) to those who have passed CAIIB Examination before joining / Already resolved
10 / Request for immediate enhancement of Hotel expenses to Officers / This is under consideration
11 / Request for waiving of compulsory Rural/Semi-urban service / Govt. guidelines are being followed. The matter will be discussed in the Joint Committee while reviewing Promotion Policy