FROM NUNGAMBAKKAM TO THOUSAND LIGHTS BRANCH

During the emergency period,SBI management started acting indifferently on the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance, and many strictures were imposed to Leaders.The Union convened an Central Committee meeting and all the district level secretaries explained the situation and explained not to cow-down by the pressure tactics of the management. The Leaders met the Circle Management to act suitably and not suppress the union activities and the union will also act accordingly with the understanding of the situation. In some branches,to settle down the old rivalry some Managers issued charge-sheeted, suspended some employees and enquiries were initiated.

Within two years the ruling congress party was thrown out of power, and newly formed Janatha
Party Government assumed charge at the Centre and all union activities became normal.

After two or three years, new problems in the Staff Federation by which the Madras Circle has
also had an impact. Mohanlal Majumdar (the President) and (General Secretary) Nirmal Choudhury had a difference of opinion. Around the same time the very strong Madras Circle to the Staff Federation also had similar issue when it started with C.L.Rajarathinam (CLR) (the President) and V.Ganesan (General Secretary of Madras Circle) having some difference of functioning between them which was controlled by T.V.Loganathan then the Vice President. When the federation level difference of opinion was beyond any compromise, the same thing happened to Madras Circle also. At the time of Circle conference and elections are due CLR wanted to contest for General Secretary post and Ganesan contested that only Central Committee to decide.

When central committee met and discussed most of the members opined that no need to change the existing position as the Circle Union should have strong base to make Federation level impact. This is was refuted by CLR and handful of Central Committee members started openly and many leaders met both Ganesan and CLR to arrive at consensus level which was totally rejected by CLR who was vehement to contest as General Secretary as such many compromise formulas failed. So with this tense situation the Circle Conference was held at Trivandrum. In the conference most of central committee members supporting the Official Candidates of Union and only 70 to 90 delegates out 600 delegates had the support the contesting candidature. Having sensed the defeat the dissent group started confusion and they were stalling the proceedings.

In our Nungambakkam Branch we had a meeting before the conference and I requested the Local secretary M.K.Moorthy to allow me to address the meeting. I told the staff union has some problem will be solved in due course of time. I requested everyone to resolve to vote for official candidates and not to any personal candidature which all the members accepted whole heartedly, there by standing by the Banner which provided every facility we enjoy. All the candidates supported by the majority of central committee members declared victorious.

The defeated CLR faction joined together which had some support due to CLR"s popularity.,
started new Union in the name State Bank Workmen Federation which was backed the Nirmal
Choudhury Faction and Management tried to break the Circle Union strong hold in All India level.

The Management posted a guy named K.D.Nayar as Chief General Manager who tried to play maximum mischief by charge sheeting, suspension and transferring creating panic situation among the minds of employees. Union Protested , contested and finally struck work which was highlighted to the Central Office who had meeting the union leaders who only solution is to transfer the CGM for his adamant approach and never wanted to discuss matters with the union. Finally the Union succeeded in the sustained approach and K.D.Nayar was thankfully transferred and after sometime he was charge sheeted for bribery. Finally I will finish this blog entry that I was also a victim of his hasty action and I was transferred from Nungambakkam Branch transferred to Thousand Lights Branch as Teller which is unique in the history of tellers.
Rest to continue in the next.