Speaking on the issue, the AIBOC General Secretary, B S Ravindra said the protest was part of the all-India level agitation against the management of Dhanalakshmi Bank.

“The bank management has acted in a manner which is hampering the trade union rights of the officers,” he said.

According to Ravindra, the bank management had recruited 3,000 officers on a contract basis compared to just 600 officers who are employed as per Officers Service Regulations.

Contract basis

“While the new age private banks like HDFC and ICICI are recruiting  officers on a contract basis, old age private banks like Dhanalakshmi Bank and Karnataka Bank used to recruit regular employees,” Ravindra said.

As a result of Dhanalakshmi Bank’s move, there are fears among the bank officers that this may become a precedence and create a wave of anti-trade union activities by employers. With over 400 bank officers protesting, the AIBOC intends to battle it out with protests and dharnas across the country.

Following the agitation in Mumbai, Delhi and now, Bangalore, the AIBOC, Tamil Nadu unit is scheduled to protest in Chennai on Thursday, informed Ravindra.

It is stated by AIBOC that while the union is ready for talks with the bank management, there has been no response from the other side.