Nationwide bank strike cripple services in Sikkim

Pappu Mallick

 

GANGTOK, August 5: Bank services in Sikkim was crippled in Sikkim today due to the all India bank strike called by the employees to divest government stake in these state-run institutions, besides to demand a host of welfare schemes.

The nationwide strike had been called by the United Forum of Bankers Union (UFBU), the umbrella organization of five workman unions and four officer unions of public sector and private sector banks in the country.

Nearly 10 lakh bank employees and officers of public sector banks, private sector banks, regional rural banks, co-operative banks as well as foreign banks struck work today.

Even the ATMs were shut, debarring consumers from withdrawing money for instant need.

The employees have opposed banking sector reforms and protested out-sourcing of bank jobs, to scrap Khandelwal Committee recommendations and to settle pending issues and demands raised by UFBU.