Karnataka Gramin Bank Unions Hold Joint Conferences with Management to Address Key Issues of Regional Rural Bankers

Kirthiraj Hidkal, the erstwhile General Secretary of KAGBOA and the present General Secretary of NFRRBO affiliated to AIRRBEA communicated Kanal in detail about the event. He conveyed “The discussions, attended by senior management and union leaders, focused on critical matters such as manpower planning, fair compensation, employee welfare, operational efficiency, and industrial relations. Both unions reported constructive dialogue, with management offering immediate assurances on select points and committing to address remaining issues in a phased manner.”

• Recruitment & Promotions: Vacancies announced earlier are being filled through direct recruitment. Promotion processes have been initiated.
• Casual Worker Regularisation: Data will be sent to NABARD as sought,.Association requested management to send the data by considering the date of engagement. 
• Transfer Policy: A separate meeting will be held for detailed policy review. 
• Staff Loan Limit Revisions: Bank agreed to examine STHL, vehicle loan, and ECDPN limits for enhancement.
• STHL to Spouses & Clubbing of Limits: Agreed for extension.
• Transfer Benefits: To be granted to officers transferred post-term completion.
• PF Advance Facility: Under consideration, subject to EPFO fund transfers.
• Unethical Practices in Social Security Schemes: Management reiterated strict prohibition of enrollments without customer consent.
• Cash Remittance Van Service: To be expanded to remaining branches in phases.
• System Integration & Auto-Generated Loan Documents: Bank assured smoother CBS functioning and future automation.
  Frequent Video Conferences: To be conducted only when necessary, respecting business hours.
• Quarterly Regional Discussions: Urged Management to restart for quicker grievance resolution. 
• Telephone Charges to Scale-I Officers: Bank confirmed extension of charges; guidelines are to be issued.
• Auto-generation of Loan Documents: To be implemented soon after stabilization of system integration.
• Absorption of tax on perquisites: Association demanded to bear the tax on perquisites as it required a meager amount. Management replied to examine the same

The bank responded positively to several other requests, including lodging expense enhancement, BP/JN allowance updates, gold loan LMS corrections, and further clarification regarding obtaining of AOD/AOS.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks and a commitment from both sides to maintain healthy industrial relations.

               KAGBEU Joint Conference: Strong Push for Employee Rights and Welfare

The KAGBEU conference was led by President Jagadeesh Kurabet and General Secretary Pradeep SP, along with women representatives and other senior union leaders. The management team included the Chairman, General Manager, and Chief Manager of HR.

KAGBEU presented a comprehensive set of demands, emphasising employee rights, fair pay, and systemic reforms. The union pressed for immediate implementation of the CGIT Award (CR/39/2013) and adoption of the 12th Bipartite Settlement (BPS) provisions for pay, allowances, and leave rules.

Top Demands Raised:

• Manpower & Workload: Urgent manpower planning as per Mitra Committee recommendations to address severe staff shortages. 
• Legal Compliance: Immediate implementation of the CGIT Award, along with arrears of CSA from November 1, 2022. 
• Casual & Contract Workers: Empanelment of all remaining casual workers. 
• Tax on Perquisites: Union requested the bank to bear this cost.
• Transfer Policy & Grievance Resolution: Fair application and regional-level dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Provision of automatic passbook printers, cash counting machines, and improvements to the Kshanadalli Hana scheme.
• Health Insurance: Coverage for casual workers.
• Women Employee Welfare: Addressing leave-related and operational challenges.

Burning Practical Issues:
The union also raised immediate operational concerns, including CBS login-based overtime allowance, migration hurdles, CMS van facilities, gold loan LMS corrections, and revised wet mopping charges.

KAGBEU leadership described the meeting as a “collective march towards justice”, emphasizing that the unity of 1,700+ members was instrumental in securing commitments from management. “Stay United. Stay Strong. Victory will be ours,” the leadership declared in a message to members.

                                                        Shared Goals, Unified Future

Both KAGBOA and KAGBEU acknowledged the positive tone of the discussions and appreciated the management’s willingness to collaborate on critical issues. While challenges remain, these conferences marked a step forward toward balancing business growth with employee well-being.

According to Presidents and General Secretaries of KAGBOA & KAGBEU, the unions reiterated their commitment to work alongside management to build a healthier, more transparent, and progressive banking environment for Karnataka Grameena Bank’s employees and customers alike.