Employees of the six associate banks of State Bank of India (SBI) observed a full day strike on February 17th. The banks' staff went on a protest in order to demand various benefits at par with the SBI staff.

All India State Bank of Indore Officers' Coordination Committee member Alok Khare said that there is discrimination in extension of loan and interest reduction benefits.

General Secretary of State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA), Naresh Gaur said, "The talks between the SBI management and us have failed because of their rigid attitude. Therefore, we are forced to observe an one-day strike tomorrow."

The unions are also demanding for immediate termination of merger proposals between the association banks and the parent bank, SBI.

National President of the association, Mahesh Mishra, informed that the strike was a success and almost 4,500 branches of the subsidiaries of SBI spread all over the country did not function.

As many as 60,000 Class III and IV employees of the associate banks of SBI went on a strike, as a result of which operations were paralyzed. "The strike is total and all operations including clearing have been paralysed," said Bank Employees' Association Joint Secretary Vishwas Utagi.

Earlier also these employees had been protesting the merger decision of SBI but yet State Bank of Saurastra and SBI merger took place.

The associate banks of SBI are State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur, State Bank of Hydrabad, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore and State Bank of Indore.