Lucknow: People had a tough time on Monday with about one third of nearly 1000 ATMs run by various public sector banks in the city running out of cash by the evening due to bank employees strike.
The ATMs ran out of cash because they could not be replenished on Sunday due to weekly off, and on Monday due to strike. Although senior bank officers said that necessary arrangements are being made for the public, the problem is expected to continue on Tuesday as well.
A section of employees of some public sector banks abstained from work on Monday as the part of the two-day strike call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) against Centre’s move to privatise two public sector banks.
UFBU spokesperson Anil Tiwari claimed that more than 400 ATM’s of 990 in the city were left with no cash by the evening. “The transaction of about 2,500 crore in Lucknow and 30,000 crore in UP was also affected because of the strike,” he added.
He said that over 10,000 bank employees working in 905 branches of various public sector banks in Lucknow were part in the protest. Altogether, two lakh employees in 14,000 branches across UP participated in the agitation, he claimed.
A public meeting was held outside the SBI main branch in Hazratganj. The meeting was addressed by union leaders including UFBU state convenor YK Arora, National Confederation of Bank Employees, state general secretary, KK Singh, and All India Bank Officers’ Association general secretary Dilip Chauhan.
