Registered Under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926

Association of Officers of UCO Bank (Registered under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926) Affiliated to All India UCO Bank Officers’ Federation, an affiliate unit of AIBOC) Regd. Office: UCO Bank, 10, B. T. M. Sarani, Kolkata – 700001 Mailing Address: 2, India Exchange Place, Room 11&12-1st Floor Kolkata 700001 TEL: 033-2262 2006 e-mail : [email protected] Website: aoucbwb.com

Circular No. 143/2012-2015 Dated: 13th June, 2014

TO ALL MEMBERS

Dear Comrades,

Sub: Reign of terrors unleashed by local hooligans in Saidpur Branch under Hooghly Zone resulting in physical assault and Hospitalization of our Officer and Employee

In the recent past it has been observed by us that some of the Branches in West Bengal staff members and officers are finding it difficult to discharge their routine duties according to the laid down norms of the Bank under pressure from the local agents patronized by hooligans. They often demand for dilution of rules from normal Banking seeking undue favour in the process.

The latest incident at Saidpur, Hooghly is the worst one. On 11th of June 2014 some local influential customers aided by hooligans started demanding some undue privileges from Bank Official. They enquired about the fate of 2500 NREGS Accounts. The Assistant Manager politely told them that all accounts except 10 accounts have been opened and there are some disputes in 10 accounts regarding KYC papers. Incidentally on that day the Senior Manger was in Kolkata for his interview for scale promotion. The in charge of the Branch informed the said customer to wait for a day for resumption of duty by Senior Manager. The said customer heavily misbehaved with the Officer and left the Branch threatening the staff members and officers with dire consequence.

At around 4.00 PM large number of people led by local hooligans virtually surrounded the Branch and started threatening the branch people. Branch Manager frantically started contacting Purshura Police Station for Police help. The local PS advised him to settle the matter with the person who abused and threatened branch people. After half an hour two unarmed police constables were sent to the branch by the Police Station. The constables assured branch people to come out as no harm will be caused to them in the presence of Police. On being assured by the Police, the branch people came out from the premises. As soon as they came out, the mob immediately had beaten up one officer and one clerical staff viz. Sri Abhishek Mondal and Sri Abhi Bhattacharya, respectively, brutally and they were admitted to Arambagh Hospital.

We have already taken up the matter with the Zonal Manager, Hooghly. The matter being very serious, the three unions viz. our Association, UCO Bank Staff Union and UCO Bank Employees’ Association met Shri S Chandrasekharan, Executive Director in deputation and submitted a joint Memorandum signed by General Secretaries of above-named three Unions. We reproduce hereunder the full test of our Memorandum addressed to the Executive Director for information of all concerned.

of 2 QUOTE “In the recent past it has been observed by us that some of the Branches in West Bengal staff members and officers are finding it difficult to discharge their routine duties according to the laid down norms of the Bank under pressure from the local agents patronized by hooligans. They often demand for dilution of rules form normal Banking seeking undue favour in the process. It is also to be noted that staff members are being forced to work beyond office hours due to acute shortage of staff in branches.

The latest incident at Saidpur, Hooghly is the worst one. On 11th of June 2014 some local influential customers aided by hooligans started demanding some undue privileges from Bank Official. Incidentally on that day the Senior Manger was in Kolkata for his interview for scale promotion. The in charge of the Branch informed the said customer to wait for a day for resumption of duty by Senior Manger. The said customer heavily misbehaved with the Officer and left the Branch threatening the staff members and officers with dire consequence.

At the end of the day large number of people led by local hooligans virtually surrounded the Branch and beaten up one officer and one clerical staff viz. Sri Abhishek Mondal and Sri Abhi Bhattacharya, respectively, brutally and they were admitted to Arambagh Hospital.

This resulted that staff members and officers are feeling insecure owing to this incident. Although FIR is reportedly lodged but it is virtually impossible for them to resume duty in such a unsecured place because of apprehension of further harassment and further possible brutal attack on them. We request you to post the staff and officers in other offices/branches suitably and keep the branch closed till normalcy is restored.

We further request you to immediately take up the matter with the highest level of state administration for curbing such activities by the local goons acting against safety and security of the staff members and officers of our Bank.

We also attach a copy of FIR, lodged by the Manager of the Branch for your ready reference.

We solicit for your immediate action on the matter.

Sd/- Sd/- Sd/- General Secretary General Secretary General Secretary UCO Bank UCO Bank Employees’ Association of Officers Staff Union Association of UCO Bank, WB” UNQUOTE

With warm greetings,

Comradely Yours,

Dipankar Mitra General Secretary