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AIRRBEA Demands Complete Implementation of the Pending 12th BPS Benefits in Baroda UP Gramin Bank
AIRRBEA has urged Baroda UP Bank to implement the 12th BPS benefits immediately, highlighting legal obligations and employee unrest. The union emphasises parity with sponsor banks to ensure fair treatment.
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: November 16, 2024
The All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) has expressed concern over Baroda UP Gramin Bank’s delay in implementing the benefits outlined in the 12th Bipartite Settlement (BPS) and 9th Joint Note. In a letter dated November 15, 2024, addressed to the bank's Chairman, AIRRBEA Secretary General S. Venkateswar Reddy highlighted the growing unrest among employees due to the denial of benefits, as mandated by the Government of India’s directive issued on July 8, 2024.
Unmet Legal and Financial Obligations
The letter cited significant grievances:
1. Ignoring multiple letters from the Baroda UP Gramin Bank Officers’ Association (BUPBOA) dated October 23 and November 13, 2024, urging immediate implementation of the settlement.
2. Overlooking a detailed letter from the National Federation of RRB Officers (NFRRBO) on November 4, 2024, which emphasised the legal and financial implications of non-compliance, including potential contempt of court proceedings.
3. Violating Section 17(1) of the RRB Act, 1976, which ensures parity of wages, allowances, and benefits for RRB staff in line with Nationalised Commercial Banks (NCBs) and Sponsor Banks, as upheld by the Supreme Court.
AIRRBEA urged the bank’s management to implement the BPS benefits retrospectively as per GOI guidelines to prevent industrial unrest and further legal consequences. As a matter of fact, on October 23, Baroda UP Bank Officers Association (BUPBOA) and Baroda UP Bank Employees Union (BUPBEU) expressed their concern on the unimplemented 12th BPS benefits.
A Call for Parity and Fair Treatment
The AIRRBEA letter emphasised the role of RRBs in promoting rural financial inclusion and underlined the importance of maintaining parity with sponsor banks. It stated, “As a responsible trade union, we prefer persuasion over confrontation. However, the anti-employee stance of the management compels us to insist on an immediate circular implementing the 12th Bipartite Settlement benefits fully and retrospectively.”
The association has called for urgent intervention, warning of potential protests and legal action if the demands are not addressed. The trend of unresolved issues reflect broader challenges faced by RRB employees across India.