Various unions of bank employees have called for a nationwide strike on 22 August to protest mainly against privatization in the sector and proposed merger of public sector banks. The other demands include ban against write-off of non-performing assets in banks. The strike call has been given by the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), which represents 9 bank unions representing employees of public and private sector banks. Nearly 10 lakh employees are expected to strike work supporting the strike. The unions are also demanding that the government enact law to declare willful default of bank loans as a criminal offence. AIABE also said after the strike, the employees of banks would hold a massive rally on 15 September and if the government does not respond to the demands, the unions would go on an indefinite strike from October or December.
