WHAT HAS CBOO DONE FOR OFFICERS DURING 3 DECADES?

During its 33 year's of existence CBOO has contributed immensely to the betterment of the officers in the Bank. Their service conditions and career path have been improved continuously. The benefits, which every officer enjoys today, are the result of CBOO's efforts. What are these facilities earned by CBOO for the officers?

Rent free quarters at all places:

Today, officers in all the places are eligible for rent-free quarters. The Management reimburses the rent on the residential accommodation hired by the officer. The rate is comparable to what is prevailing in the best of the banks. While the scheme itself was first introduced in 1983, the latest revision was agreed at the joint meeting held between CBOO and the Management in December 2005.

Conveyance Expenses:

All the officers in the bank are eligible for reimbursement of conveyance expenses at varying rates depending on the position and place of work of the officers. The scheme was first introduced in 1982 and was last revised at the joint meeting held in March 2005 between CBOO and the Management. For officers in Bombay, a separate scheme was introduced in 1994. A petrol consumption linked scheme was introduced in May 1998, which was revised twice, once in July 2001 and further in March 2005..

Entertainment Expenses:

Through an agreement arrived at in November, 1996 a scheme of reimbursement of entertainment  expenses was  introduced covering all designated officers.  In March, 2001 it was extended to all officers. In 2004 the limits were revised.

Newspaper:

In terms of a settlement in the Joint Meeting held in June 1998, every officer of the Bank is eligible to get reimbursement of expenses on a newspaper up to certain limits.

Conveyance while on training/outstation duty:

When an officer is on a training/bank's work outside his headquarters he is eligible for reimbursement of conveyance expenses for commuting between the place he stays and the venue of the training.

Traveling Expenses on Transfer:

On transfer an officer joins at the new place; fixes up his quarters and thereafter he travels to his erstwhile workplace to bring his family. His traveling expenses to and fro his former work place to bring his family/personal effects will be reimbursed by the bank as per the agreement between CBOO and the Management.

Promotion Policy:

For long, there was no policy governing the promotion of officers from one scale to another. After a serious agitation in 1981, the first promotion policy was jointly evolved. Over years the original policy has undergone changes to reflect the bank's needs and the aspirations of officers. the latest revision was in March 2005 when a fast track promotion channel was agreed to be adopted for promotion up to MMGS III.  Through an agreement in June 2005, fast track is introduced for promotion from MMGS III to SMGS IV. CBOO has been able, to a substantial extent, to meet the career aspirations of the officers.

Transfer Policy:

Until 1988, there was no Transfer Policy for officers. After negotiations failed, CBOO went on an agitation culminating in a strike in December 1988. That was the first ever strike by the officers of Corporation Bank independently. After this strike, the Transfer Policy was signed in January 1989. The policy so evolved constitutes the basis for all officers' transfers. This was further improved in January 1997 after an agitation. During 76^th Joint Meeting of December 2005, the Transfer Policy was again revised considering all factors and experiences of the existing Policy.

Hardship Centres:

Certain areas do not have the basic amenities like medical facilities, school, conveyance and habitable accommodation. In terms of an agreement with CBOO no officer posted to such areas will be required to work there beyond 2 years and after that tenure he can opt for a better centre.

Residential Flats:

In major centres where rentals for accommodation are very high CBOO has persuaded the Management to acquire residential flats for officers. As a result, in places like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Tiruppur, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jamnagar, Lucknow and Mangalore residential flats are purchased by the Bank to be used by the officers. In many other centres also similar facilities are provided.

Furniture at Quarters :

Till 1997 officers were not eligible for bank's furniture at their residences. CBOO was able to get this facility extended to all officers by an agreement signed in June 1997. This was further revised in 2004.

Telephone at residence:

As per an agreement signed between CBOO and the Management in August 2001 expenses on the residential telephone are reimbursed.  This was further improved by extending the facility to all officers from January 2005.

Pay fixation formula for promotee officers:

The issue of fixation of the pay of officers promoted from the clerical cadre was a contentious subject for long. It was finally resolved in June 1998 when an agreement was signed between CBOO and the management.

Brief case & visiting cards:

Through another agreement signed in December 2003 officers are now provided with brief cases to carry their official documents; they are also provided with visiting cards.

Anywhere quarters:

Officers working in Inspection and Audit Department are, effective from April 1989, eligible to fix up residential quarters at any place of their choice, thanks to an agreement between CBOO and the Management.

Supplementary vehicle loan:

As the vehicle loan provided by the bank at concessional interest rate is not enough to cover the cost adequately CBOO prevailed upon the Management to evolve a scheme of supplementary vehicle loan.

Supplementary housing  loan :

The concessional housing loan is not sufficient to meet the increasing cost of house building. CBOO persuaded the Management to introduce a supplementary housing loan to augment the funds for house building by the officers.

Designation of officers:

Until 1990 there was no distinction in the designation of officers in the bank. Other than officers in charge of branches or sectional heads every one was called officer. Considering the role differentials CBOO persuaded the Management to designate all Scale III Officers as Senior Managers (1990) and Scale II Officers as Managers (1992).

 Welfare schemes of the Bank:

Until 1994, there was no staff welfare scheme in the bank. For long CBOO was persuading the Management to introduce welfare measures. Finally in 1994 the Management started introducing certain measures for the welfare of the staff. Notable are: -

a) Holiday homes at Goa, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ernakulam,

     Hyderabad, Shimla, Chennai and   Bangalore, 

b)  medical  Check up for senior employees and

c)  Canteen  Subsidy

d)     Reimbursement of school/college fee of the children of employees

e)     Savings Linked Group Insurance cover

Disciplinary proceedings:

In the area of disciplinary proceedings there was no proper system in the Bank. Summary actions were the order of the day. Principles of natural justice were rarely followed. Through continuous pressure and persuasion CBOO was able to get the system streamlined and ensure that officers facing disciplinary proceedings will not suffer from miscarriage of justice.

Grievances Redressal Committee (GRC):

To attend to the grievances of the officers a GRC with representatives both from the Management and CBOO is now working. This was a demand made by CBOO in 1983 and agreed to by the Management. A number of individual issues regarding fitment, traveling expenses, hospitalisation etc. are resolved through GRC. (For details see Grievances Redressal Committee)

CBOO Nominees on SPF and Pension Trusts :

CBOO has its own nominees on the SPF Trust and Pension Trust. This gives the members a sense of participation in the Management of SPF and Pension Trust.

CBOO nominee on the Bank's Board:

CBOO had its first nominee on the Bank's Board of Directors from July 1991. At present General Secretary D.N.Prakash is the Officer Director. This has given an opportunity to CBOO to participate at the Board level decisions as per the government policy. (To find more, see separate section `Officer Director’)

Many more:

There are many more issues that were taken up and settled. Changes over years have resulted in replacement of such settlements. These are natural in a dynamic set up. To name a few: Membership of provident fund for probationary officers (1987), setting right of fitment anomalies of 1979, reimbursement of medical expenses on declaration (1982) and reimbursement of hotel expenses while on tour (1983) - were relevant at the time of settlements.

Beyond Trade Union issues

CBOO has, as its goal, a desire to emerge as a model trade union to look after all the needs and problems of the members and simultaneously involve in socially relevant issues. The measures so far taken are worth noting.

Benevolent Fund in 1982:

CBOO set up its Benevolent Fund by monthly contribution of Rs.10/- from its members. The benefits given today are grant of Rs.1,25,000/- in the event of death of the member, reimbursement of hospitalisation expenses of the dependents and self, and contingency grant of Rs.10,000/- in identified cases. (To find more, see separate section Benevolent Fund)

Officers' Voice :

CBOO's monthly journal, Officers’ Voice started in July 1982 has completed 23 years of uninterrupted publication. It is informative and controversial and is effective in reaching the members. (To find more, see separate section Officers Voice)

Women's Wing :

CBOO was among the first bank unions to have a full fledged women's wing with a Secretary elected in its General Body.  It was the first union to organise a convention of women at Mangalore in December 1995. It was able to persuade the management to extend the benefit of a pre-natal medical examination of pregnant women employees at the bank's cost and set up a rest room for women in Head Office.

Social Action Wing - SWASTI :

As per the decision taken in 1998 General Body, CBOO set up a social action wing called SWASTI. It was inaugurated in January 1999. Under SWASTI, financial and other support is given to a number of socially significant activities. (To find more, see separate section SWASTI)

 CBOO CENTRE :

To commemorate its Silver Jubilee (1973-98), a multipurpose building was constructed at Mangalore and inaugurated in January 2000.  Called CBOO CENTRE, it has amenities to conduct training, seminars and meetings, guest rooms/dormitories and a convention hall. (To find more, see separate section CBOO Centre)