MARGAO
Madgaum Urban Cooperative Bank (MUCB) officers and employees staged a protest outside the head bank office, Aquem on Wednesday against the non-payment of salaries of the last two months and the recent circular taking away the various rightful benefits of the employees.
The staff and employees have threatened to practice “work to rule” movement and attend the office but observe “Mauna-Vrata” from today.
Pointing out that they had to go without their salaries for the last two months, the officers and employees said they have come across a circular issued the Managing Director informing the staff members that their sick leave and privilege leave for the year 2021 would be calculated proportionately, up to the date of July 29, the date on which the RBI had cancelled the banking license.
Union leader Prasanna Utagi told the members that the MD has also informed the bank staff that for the purpose of calculating gratuity, the length of service is restricted up to July 29.
“Logically, it follows that the MD presumes that there is no employer-employee relations between the Bank’s management and the staff beyond July 29. Consequently, the staff may not be paid salary and other service benefits beyond July 29”, he added.
Demanding the immediate withdrawal of the circular, Utagi and the employees demanded that the management should immediately withdraw the circular and pay the overdue salary to all the staff for the month of July and August, which has fallen due today ie on September 1 as per the tradition and practice as well as under the provision of law. “The salary for the month of July should be paid as per the provision of the Memorandum of Settlement dated July 29, 2010 ie updating DA and increment etc,” Utagi said.
When The Goan called up the MUCB Managing Director and Designated officer, Kishor Amonkar to shed light on the delay in the payment of staff salaries, he said the liquidator has set in motion the process to disburse the salaries at the earliest.
