Banks Go On Strike

NEW DELHI, India - (08/25/04) -- Employees and managers in thenation's largest banking union went on strike Monday paralyzingcommerce across the country. More than one million employees innine unions representing bank employees joined the work stoppage,shutting down thousands of branches at almost 60 banks. Unionrepresentatives said they were dissatisfied with management's wageconcessions and a proposal that management be free to transferemployees anywhere. The strike had been called to protest attemptsby the banks' management to delay negotiations for a wage hike forofficers and clerical staff. Though the strike left the nation'sbanks deserted, consumers were still able to access their fundsthrough ATM and debit transactions, with customers seen lining upat ATMs.