Our Glorious Journey Struggle & Achievements
1946 : Formation of All India Bank Employees' Association in April. Meeting of employees of United Commercial Bank Ltd. in July. Strikes in different banks throughout the year along with P&T workers
1947 : Bharat Bank Employees' victorious strike for 7 days. Victory rally after 7 days strike. Freedom struggle succeeded, India became independent Country on 15th August. Independence celebration by United Commercial Bank Ltd. Employees' Association
1948 : Strike in Central Bank, Lloyds Bank & Bharat Bank. Com. Provat Kar was convicted and dismissed with 40 other employees in Lloyds Bank
1949 : Issue of an Ordinance taking Banking as a Central subject, on 30th April. Institution of All India Tribunal with Justice K. C. Sen as Chairman in June
1950 : Amendment of Sec.33 of I.D. Act by GoI at the instance of bank employees. Sen Award published on 12th August. United Commercial Bank Ltd. Employees' Association changed to United Commercial Bank Employees' Association
1951 : Sen Award declared void by Supreme Court on Banks' appeal in April. Tripartite Conference held in May at Delhi - Sen Award agreed upon. Temporary provisions Act freezing Sen Award. Appointment of Divatia Tribunal, I.D. Act further amended. Divatia Tribunal resigned in August.
1952 : Sen Award declared void by Supreme Court on Banks' appeal in April. Tripartite Conference held in May at Delhi - Sen Award agreed upon. Temporary provisions Act freezing Sen Award. Appointment of Divatia Tribunal, I.D. Act further amended. Divatia Tribunal resigned in August.
1953 : Shastri Tribunal's Award published in April. Bank Employees' appeal for stay of Shastri Award. Labour Appellate Tribunal hearing stayed in Bombay on bank employees' appeal.
1954 : Govt. order issued modifying L.A. T., Countrywide agitation of bank employees. Central Labour Minister V. V. Giri resigned. Countrywide protest strike on 23rd Sept. Appointment of Rajadhakshya Commission.
1955 : Bank Award Commission's recommendation in September. I.D. (Banking Companies') Act was passed in December. Countrywide strike against wage cut.
1956 : Bank employees arrested under P.D. Act 8000 charge sheets in West Bengal. Formation of Travancore-Cochin Banking Enquiry Commission.
1957 : Calculation of D.A. on 6 months' basis reduced to 3 months' basis, result of countrywide bank employees' strike.
1958 : Joint reference of Bonus dispute to Tribunal. 40 retrenched employees including Com. Pravat Kar of Lloyds Bank reinstated.
1959 : Charter of Demand submitted by the bank employees on 23rd April as Shastri Award expired on 31st March. 6 Union leaders including Com. Naresh Paul were dismissed. Krishnamoorthy Tribunal ordered reinstatement.
1960 : SBI Subsidiary Banks Act passed. Amendment of DA Formula with retrospective effect in February. First informal meeting of all parties with Tribunal in May. Reference of Bonus dispute to Desai Tribunal on 21st September.
1961 : Bank employees' representation were allowed in the Bonus Sub-Committeee in the ILC.
1962 : Bonus Award published
1963 : Bonus Commission heard representation from the Banking Industry.
1964 : Area IV abolished in A & B Class Banks. Increment in lieu of special allowance, allowed to graduates and Banking diploma holders.
1965 : Tripartite & Bipartite meetings held. Area IV abolished in C-Class Banks.
1966 : Bipartite meeting concluded. 1st Bipartite signed.
1967 : Medical aid for part-time workmen in United Commercial Bank was agreed.
1968 : Movement on Bonus issue in United Commercial Bank.
1969 : Bank Nationalisation in July. Movement for Promotion Policy & Recruitment in United Commercial Bank. Visit of delegates from Vietnam to meet Tus in India.
1970 : Struggle against vindictive charge-sheets, unfair recruitments. Separate demand notice submitted.
1971 : Leaders of Association were attacked in various places in West Bengal. Struggle for fair recruitment policy.
1972 : Agitation for Promotion Policy Settlement.
1973 : Negotiation on workmen Director with Federation.
1974 : Suggestions on Promotion Policy submitted.
1975 : Promotion Policy Settlement agreed and adopted. Emergency declared, several leaders arrested. Attack on constitutional rights.
1976 : Management's attack intensified, union took the path of continuous movement. Organisational dispute revealed with attitude of Federation in relation to launching struggle.
1977 : Organisational dispute intensified against the function of Federation. Emergence of UCBEA as a National Level Organisation.
1978 : National level demonstrative programme adopted.
1979 : Management agreed that without United Commercial Bank Employees' Association, no policy matter will be decided.
1980 : United Commercial Bank Employees' Association dis-associated with AIBEA in August. Bank Employees Federation of West Bengal established in September in Thyagraj Hall, Calcutta.
1981 : 1st Conference of Bank Employees Federation of West Bengal. New Promotion Policy signed with United Commercial Bank Employees' Association under ID Act.
1982 : Bank Employees Federation of India established. Letter to management on corruption frauds, malpractices and apathy of the management.
1983 : Struggle against computerisation emerged. Protest against acceptance of automation in Bipartite Settlement. Historical agreement on absorption of canteen employees in United Commercial Bank. Historical strike on 6th September called by BEFI against computerisation.
1984 : Hongkong Bank computer movement started and lasted 142 days. Demand for inclusion of BEFI in Bipartite Settlement.
1985 : Struggle for absorption of casual employees in United Commercial Bank. Historical strike on 25th September called by BEFI.
1986 : Memorandum submitted and dharna programme all over India on absorption of casual employees in United Commercial Bank. Memorandum submitted for New Promotion Policy Settlement. 40th years celebration of UCBEA at Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata.
1987 : Discussion started with management on revised Promotion Policy Settlement in UCO Bank. Dharna programme all over India for settlement of pending issues.
1988 : New Promotion Policy Settlement was signed. Movement for absorption of casual employees/240 days employees intensified.
1989 : United Commercial Bank Employees' Association changed to UCO Bank Employees' Association. Historical judgement on absorption of 240 days empanelled employees in UCO Bank.
1990 : One State Committee in new phase emerged as West Bengal & Sikkim State Committee. Movement against different clauses of 5th Bipartite Settlement. Letter to management on improvement of Bank's performance.
1991 : Intensified movement for inclusion of BEFI into Bipartite Settlement. Absorption of 240 days employees in UCO Bank. Our letter to Bank's condition - meeting with Union Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
1992 : Movement & dharna in different parts of the country by UCBEA on pending issues. Pension scheme in lieu of Bank's contribution to PF introduced. Memorandum submitted to Governor, RBI, on Bank's condition. Letter to Finance Minister, GOI on posting of CMD in UCO Bank.
1993 : Massive rally organised all over India for inclusion of BEFI in Bipartite Settlement. Letter to Finance Minister, GOI on posting of CMD in UCO Bank. Letter to Chief Minister, Jyoti Basu, Govt. of West Bengal.
1994 : Ministry of Finance, GOI, discussed with the representative of BEFI. IBA called BEFI for discussion. BEFI placed Charter of Demand. Rotational transfer as per Govt. guideline was introduced.
1995 : 6th Bipartite Settlement was signed by BEFI. Memorandum was submitted by UCBEA for recruitment and absorption of sweepers, canteen boys and other casual employees in UCO Bank. Another option of Pension approved.
1996 : Golden Jubilee years of UCBEA celebrated at Salt Lake Stadium. Movement against management apathy on the crisis of UCO Bank.
1997 : Movement launched against management's decision to freeze wages in UCO Bank. All the apex Unions organised rally in front of our Bank against wage freeze in UCO Bank. UFBU formed - launched historic movements against privatisation and on other issues. Union Finance Minister, Mr. Chidambaram, visited our Bank - met Bank's Board and Unions. SRP (Strategic Revial Plan) was signed by management and all the Unions in UCO Bank irrespective of cadres.
1998 : Met with Verma Committee for development of UCO Bank. ALPM was introduced.
1999 : Discussion on revision of Promotion Policy Settlement started
2000 : Revised Promotion Policy Settlement was signed.
2001 : Mid-term restructuring policy declared. Memorandum submitted for settlement of pending issues.
2002 : Discussion started for absorption of casual employees.
2003 : ISBS package had been introduced.
2004 : Discussion on redeployment with management started. One more option of Pension movement started by BEFI.
2005 : Dharna programme all over India for settlement of pending issues including absorption of casual employees.
2006 : New redeployment policy as per business criteria adopted. Diamond Jubilee celebration of UCBEA at University Institute Hall, Kolkata. Management started discussion on absorption of casual employees.
2007 : UCBEA submitted list of casual sweepers all over India and also list of casual workers along with canteen boys, drivers etc. Management started discussion. Finacle system introduced.
2008 : A historic MoU signed on which casual sweepers were empanelled
2009 : Agreement signed for all absorption of all casual sweepers to consolidated wage sweepers.
2010 : 2nd option of Pension agreed and achieved. Consolidated wage sweepers were converted to PTS. Suggestions of revision of Promotion Policy Settlement was placed to management in UCO Bank. Management agreed to absorb canteen boys.
2011 : Discussion on New Promotion Policy Settlement started.
2012 : New Promotion Policy Settlement signed. Another MoU signed on absorption of casual sweepers engaged upto 31.03.2012. IBPS clerical recruitment started.
2013 : New IR Policy introduced. Management taken legal steps against UCBEA for launching movement against New IR Policy.
2013 : New IR Policy introduced. Management taken legal steps against UCBEA for launching movement against New IR Policy.
2014 : Compassionate Appointment, in line of Central Government, introduced.
2015 : Medical Insurance Policy Scheme started as per 10th Bipartite Settlement in lieu of previsous hopitalisation scheme.
2016 : 70 years of glorious journey - celebration at Uttam Mancha, Kolkata.. Demonetisation episode that was effected was the most devastating event in Indian economy in recent times. The drive has failed miserably to drag the black money, or to choke the fund to the terrorists as was pronounced in high sounding phrases by the Prime Minister. In the meantime, nearly 99% of the currency notes in denominations of Rs.500/- and Rs.1000/- have returned back, belying all expectations. The move has negatively impacted the Indian economy by reducing the GDP growth rate substantially. Apart from the deaths and harassment of the customers and Bank employees in general, demonetization drive has played havoc on agriculture and particularly SMEs enormously effecting the lives and livelihoods of the marginal and poor people with perpetual effects; hard to recover very soon. Most interestingly, in order to divert the attention of the common people from the devastation of demonetization, the Prime Minister is now ceremoniously harping on digital India and importing further harassment for the people on different alibi.Before the Nation could come out of the impact of Demonetisation, the government made yet another venture in the name of “One Nation, One Market & One Tax”. Thus the GOODS & SERVICES TAX has come into being from July 2017. During the period under consideration all the subsidiaries of State Bank of India including Bharatia Mahila Bank have been merged with State Bank of India. BEFI all the way stood against such decision of Merger while there could not be required unison among all the trade unions in the banking sector.
2017 : GOI had taken a decision for the capital allocation to some banks including ours would be linked with quarterly milestones on which all related parties i.e. Bank’s Board, management and employees. So far, 11 PSBs have been placed under PCA framework in India. They are Indian Overseas Bank, Dena Bank, Corporation Bank, Central Bank of India, IDBI Bank Ltd, UCO Bank, United Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Bank of India and Allahabad Bank. Collectively, they have a deposit portfolio of Rs28.26 trilion, 33.55% of the total deposits of all public sector banks. Similarly, they have a 33.08% share of the loan book of the public sector banking industry and their share of PSB banking assets is 33.44%. In our Bank, Preliminary MOU dated 28.03.2017 along with back to back paper of Turn Around Plan (TAP) signed by us along with other unions, with the consent of BEFI. Back to Back agreement dated 28.03.2017 signed by us along with other unions. But as BEFI had taken a stand not to sign the final MoU and back to back paper on TAP. We refused to sign the MoU and back to back paper on TAP, though other unions in bank had put their signatures there.
2018 : The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill of the BJP government led by Modi has shaken the faith the common people had reposed in the public sector banks since bank nationalization. If the banks fail, due to the huge defaults by the corporates, it will be the common people who will be made to suffer. Massive protest raised from all the corners of the country against this Bill.
2019 : The Government has announced another round of merger of 10 Public Sector Banks into four despite negative impact of previous rounds of merger, on banking services and employment. The reasons being offered for merger are utterly false and deceptive. Countrywide movement including strike had been started. FRDI Bill had been stopped in the Parliament on the verge of countrywide protest moment and All India Bank Strike.
2020 : Merger process had been initiated of 10 banks for which the number of PSBs ultimately would be come down to 12.
2021 : Initiation of Family Pension updation had been started.
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