BMS REPLY TO AIBPARC ON UPDATION OF PENSION

[MOHAN P]

भारतीय मज़दर संघ

BHARATIYA MAZDOOR SANGH

Debut Thengad Bhavan,21Deendayal Upadhyaya

Marg New Delhi-110002

June 11, 2025

 

Shri K.V. Acharya & Shri  Suprita Sarkar

 President and General Secretary

AIBPARC

 

Respected Shri Acharyaji,

Hope this letter finds you in good health and spirit.

We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated May 12, 2025 and I express my heartfelt thanks to you for your good wishes.

At the outset, we regret for delay in replying your letter due to some unavoidable circumstances beyond our control.

The existing lull among pensioners is not new, but it has become normal for the banking industry in existing dispensation. There was never any effort to take pensioners' issues to the RBI footsteps. No proper clarification we found, why the responsible Unions distanced from the agreed & admitted terms given in Settlement date 29.10.1993, the decision of 26.3.1994 of the Small Committee meeting and Clause 35 (1) of BEPR, 1995. The Unions, particularly big ones, which are parties in Settlements/ decisions and who have been determining the wages and service conditions of the Banksmen, did not take any stand against contempt of their own settlements/ understandings. Over time, today it has become the normal.

This trend was never effectively resisted by pensioners and their representatives. They continued hobnobbing with working unions. Perhaps they were in hope that the problems would sooner or later be resolved. As the fact is, small working unions have never been in an effective role. They could create little hurdles which were surmounted by big Unions- management alliance.

We disagree with your assessment that the UFBU, IBA or DFS raised any voice in front of CLC about pensioners. In fact, raising voice was the work of the Unions of UFBU, especially big Unions. Why should management, IBA or DFS raise any Prospects of Pension Updation

Prospects of pension updation have been thrashed with various tactics on various occasions by none other than Big Unions. The big Unions stepped into the shoes of management and played as the spokesperson of the management on the pension updation issue.

 Unions were seen signing settlement after Settlement by ignoring the demand of pension updation. On 25.5.2015, the Unions announced in writing with the IBA that Pensioners have no contractual relationship with their respective Banks. In this way, Unions and Banks together dismissed pensioners' relationship with Banks and when there is no relationship, there is no question of Pension Updation.

In the MOU on 7.12.2023, the IBA sidelined the Pension updation on plea that the matter is subjudice. It is subjudice, but not stayed. But, Unions did not protest this plea of IBA at all. Prior to this, on the affidavit of the IBA filed in the Supreme Court, the Unions did not make any counter -protest, in which the IBA said

that there is no provision of pension updation in Pension Regulations, 1995, and that bank Pensioners are demanding equality with Central Government Pensioners.

This averments of IBA are blatant lie, devoid of facts. Pensioners have been demanding Pension Updation on RBI line, not equality with Central Government Pensioners. And, that the Pension

Updation with the salary revision is an inbuilt condition in Pension Settlement followed with Small Committee decisions and clause 35(1) of BEPR, 1995. It has been implemented too.

We need a permanent solution of updation issue like the one in RBI so that in future no trouble is created. We appreciate your anxiety and efforts being made in this regard. It needs fortification and greater enforcement.

Sometime in past we received a letter from Sri SC Jain, General Secretary, AIBRF thanking us for doing something in Pensioners matters. He told us to meet, but seem to be busy, could not turn up.

We feel that a better position can be built and prospects strengthened, if some coordinated and unified efforts are made. We may be able to serve the cause of suffering Pensioner fraternity if AIBRF & AIBPARC coordinate with us. You are associated with us, but still much more is needed than this formal approach.

We, at BMS, are committed to help Bank Pensioners, who are in their advance age, facing ailments and have done great service to nation and people to build giant Banking institutions, when they were there. They are veterans, being denied and deprived of their due rights. Purely on humanitarian grounds, we are pursuing their cause with the help of Pensioner Activists. Together we can make a difference. BMS is always ready to respond whole heartedly for any help and assistance to attain the ultimate goal.

We are endorsing a copy of this letter to AIBRF General Secretary requesting him to come forward with large heart. We are out to serve Pensioners and we should not make ourselves victim of our personal egos. Pensioners wellbeing is ultimate objective of us all. We must work keeping this object in mind as guiding principle of our endeavours.

May we unite and work together to accomplish what is fair and righteous.

I wish you all the very best on the eve of your Governing Body Meeting to have fruitful and constructive deliberations. Kindly convey my best wishes and regards to you and entire team.

Yours sincerely

(Girish Chandra Arya)

All India Secretary, BMS Member, CBT, EPFO

9818206399

[JSOMA SHEKARA]

A well written reply. We have always reiterated that DFS will not interfere in BPS talks and act only on recommendation of IBA on any issue. UFBU is not taking any action in case of retirees' issues.

BMS is taking initiative to unite retiree associations and fight unitedly to achieve updation.

BMS has also requested AIBRF and AIBPARC to join hands with BMS to achieve this goal.

But AIBRF has so far not responded. So what could be the reason for AIBRF to not respond to the unity call.

Then Mohan Sir,  has uploaded a letter from AIBRF.

As we are well aware UFBU never consulted, coordinated with retiree associations. during the last 15-20 years. Every time IBA called the  UFBU for discussions on residual issues, AIBRF and AIBPARC would address a lengthy letter to UFBU requesting taking up updation and merger of DA etc by providing charts, calculations etc. But UFBU never considered this but the BPS meeting ended up with IBA saying sub judice.

It is well known that main  Bank Unions are miffed with BMS because it has complained against AIBEA for  mourning the death of EX Pakistan President in a Bank union meeting. In above letter dated  11th June of 

BMS in which has  squarely blamed two main unions for a long pending updation issue. It has called AIBRF to join hands with AIBRF and bMS to fight updation issue unitedly.

Now a Miracle has happened. Immediately after BMS letter dated 11th June,  UFBU has invited AIBRF for consultation.For the first time in the last 20 years UFBU is consulting a retiree association.

Reason may be that AIBRF should not join BMS 'staunch opposition to AIBEA and AIBOC. Reason may be to break unity.

However let us hope this is a genuine attempt by UFBU and positive discussions are held to achieve updation and other issues as UFBU only has the right to take up the issue with IBA.

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[Gopalakrishnan Ramachandran]

The retirees unions should demand clear- cut solution to our problems. They should ask for time bound solution. Immediate attention is to be invited for revision of ex-gratia factor, followed by full fledged updation.

If no positive response is received they should come out of the captivity of the parent unions and join with other retiree outfits to have a common fighting unit. The UFBU should not treat the retirees union for granted.

Hope the unions representing the retirees send a strong message to the UFBU

G Ramachandran 

CB-SVRS 

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[mathunni panicker]

Why AIBRF  is shying away from meeting the GS of BMS and take their cooperation for the cause of bank retirees.Please keep away politics out and enlist their cooperation to solve this long standing issue.Senior and super senior pensioners will be ever grateful for this.BMS is part of the ruling party at the centre and they can influence the powers to take  favourable decision in the matter.C M PANICKER , Super senior pensioner -e-SBT.   

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[Ramani Konnayar]

It is common knowledge that all Trade Unions owe allegiance to political parties who indirectly control them. This is applicable to the various trade unions in the banking industry too.

BMS is the trade union wing of BJP and has not much presence in the banking sector. Needless to say, to which political parties in the opposition AIBEA, BEFI, INBEC which among them have the membership of the majority belong.

AIBRF and AIBPARC are controlled by

ex-office bearers of the above unions.

Under the circumstances, they cannot be expected to unite under the banner of BMS and let the credit go to them for securing any benefit to the bank pensioners.

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[Ramakrishnan S]

It is abundantly clear that UFBU is least interested in retirees' issues (mainly updation), neither coordinated with other interested parties nor pursue the issues on it's own! On the other hand SC will also keep on deferring the Singhla Case. At least it should end the case, either with a positive verdict or even otherwise, to put an end to the UFBU or IBA's claim that the issue is subjudice! 

Ramakrishnan. 

On Thu, 12 Jun, 2025, 9:28 am JSOMA SHEKARA, <jsomase...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[JSOMA SHEKARA]

AIBRF meeting UFBU is good news. Whoever resolves our long pending issues are welcome. But the AIBRF circular  is vague. As we all know,  as of now UFBU has no convenor. Because of this IBA is addressing communications to UFBU constituents separately, So which union has invited AIBRF is not known.

However let us wish this is a genuine effort to resolve the issues.

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[vrsivaram...@yahoo.in]

 IBA is a broker of banks and UFBU. IBA is  not running the banks . IBA is a mediator. UNIONS cannot dictate terms to banks.  Unions can demand and force the banks when agreed settlements are not implemented. IBA is a messenger to banks, DFS and CLC. If our leaders are real trade union leaders then they will not negotiate further with IBA when it fails to demand the banks to implement the agreed settlements.

Regarding PENSION regulations 1993 1994 we have opted for pension in which it is clearly said our regulations are similar to RBI pension regulations. 1995 pension regulation is bogus and it is applicable only to  trade union leaders and management.

In 100%DA case banks and IBA said in the court that they are paying according to the settlement. So the judgement came in favour of bank in Madras High Court and in Supre Court also.

Now why IBA and Banks are not going according to the settlement.???? The Unions have no guts to demand.

So please send a registered letter to bank asking them to implement the agreed settlement and revise the PENSION 

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[Ramani Konnayar]

Dear Sri Sivaramakrishnan,

I beg to differ from your view that "the unions have no guts to demand" (updation). As stated earlier by me on many occasions in this forum, they have actually no INCLINATION to fight for updation as they know that the cost of updation could seriously affect the future wage increases of the majority of their members who are under NPS.

Updation would have happened long 

ago but for the replacement of BEPR 1993 by NPS in 2010.

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[JSOMA SHEKARA]

Mr. Ramani Sir,

You  have repeatedly said that NPS is the cause  for delay in Updation. There is no relation at all between NPS and EPR 1995. Further those who are under NPS are retiring in 2030-35. The argument pension funds are sufficient is also false. Pension funds have no relation to updation. The actual reasons for delay in getting updation are.

1.  Unethical, irresponsible, dictatorship attitude of UFBU leadership.

2. Without deciding formula for updation, load factor how can union leaders decide cost is unaffordable?

3. As unions themselves disclosed, Banks allotted 20000 crores for Family pension improvement, still  got a higher percentage of wage increase than last BPS.

4. There are  many ways to fund Updation cost. Spreading cost over 5 years, implementing in stages giving first priority to those whose basic not updated even once, possibility of Finance ministry funding a part of the cost and any other source. Without calculating cost spreading false narrative that cost unaffordable is nothing but an attempt to bury the issue for ever.

5. Another great disadvantage is iBA decides the fate of retirees' demands but  IBA does not come under RTI Act and is not inclined to communicate with retirees  Banks are also non cooperative and direct, pensioners to iBA which is a dead end.

Unions are also most adamant and  egoist and do not communicate with retirees or their associations either directly or through their websites  and do not inform the status of demands.

On the one hand, the IBA is filing addafit that the updation cost is huge and unaffordable  but pensioners   will not get any data from Banks or iBA to counter the same in the court. Both IBA and UFBU are fully exploiting this disadvantage of pensioners.

6. There is no banking tribunal and IBA and UFBU are well aware that pensioners have no alternative than  approaching courts from  district court to SC for justice which takes 10-15 years for a verdict, so they deliberately delay/deny benefits.

7. Unlike the joint struggle of RBI employees and pensioners, Bank pensioners are fighting a lone battle with no support from Unions, retiree associations. We agree Bank pensioners are not professors in Bank pension regulations subject, but Retiree associations also have not done PHD either  in the subject, They fail to understand what is Reg35/1, even after a few court verdicts.

8. Even if we agree that the cost of updation is high, why has UFBU not resolved the merger of DA so far.  which cost nothing or some 100-200 increase per pensioner. The agenda for this delay is that both IBA and  UFBU know very well that merger is the first step towards updation and they try to stall the demand.  

9. Unions have also failed to explain to pensioners how updation issue can become sub judice when there is no stay on discussions

10.  IF IBA and UFBU agree to amend pension regulations to provide for periodical updating of pension pending implementation will it require huge cost?. As this will help pensioners in court they are avoiding this.

Those who are supposed to represent and resolve pensioners issue are blocking all channels that can open a way for justice,

                                                                           

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[krishna mohan nidumolu]

Kindly explain the demand for Merger of DA in details. 

Regdrds 

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