Don't bank on Gartner: Bankers

The employees of Bank of Baroda staged a dharna and resorted to slogan shouting to protest against M/s Gartner, a US-based information technology firm that was summoned by the bank management to form a business strategy for the bank.

According to the protesting employees, the IT and business strategy will cost the bank nearly Rs 690 crores, which is not feasible at all.

Talking to media, zonal secretary of All India Bank of Baroda Officer's association R. K. Chauhan, said, "This US company was called one year ago by the bank management. Two months ago they made a slide presentation, which is when we understood the future consequences of depending on this company." He added that the officials from Gartner travel in luxurious cars and are given all expensive facilities, the expenses of which the bank bears.

The zonal secretary further said that the strategies proposed by this company do not guarantee great success for the bank, especially when they do not have an understanding of Indian banking trends with specific focus on public sector banks and their social responsibilities.

General Secretary of All India Bank of Baroda Employees Federation, Janak Rawal said, "The bank has reached the premier position only through in-house expertise that is abundantly available and through consultants. This is an attempt to deunionalise and denationalise the banking sector."

The employees further alleged that as a part of this proposal, regional officers are to be repositioned and 16 offices have been closed. Also, large number of branches spread over a vast geographical area are clubbed under one "region". According to them, this situation will lead to difficulties for the customers in approaching the higher authorities, in case of need.

Meanwhile, top management of the Bank of Baroda invited the presidents and general secretaries of the four unions to review the decision of appointment of M/s Gartner on February 20, Mr. Chauhan said. The employees have further threatened serious steps like mass casual leave and even strike, if their demand is not met.

Republished from The Asian Age