Even as fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB) gets bigger, discontent seems to be brewing among the employees with the management planning mass transfer of office bearers of all the recognised unions from their respective regions if they have completed six years of service, following vigilance inquiries.
There are 76 circles and about 12 office bearers in each circle. But it is yet to be ascertained how many officers would have to move to new locations.
Officer associations are up in arms against the management for planning such a move as they say that some of the officers will not be able to continue if they are moved out of the specific location.
A senior PNB official said, "This is the first time the transfers will be effected in all the circles at the same time. In the past also, we were transferring union and association members, but this time it will be across the board."
According to sources, the officers association is trying to collect information on the misdeeds of the circle heads so that they can use it as a tool to stop the management from taking such an action.
"The unions are always up in arms, but we have to proceed as per the vigilance requirements," said the senior officer.
The association said the transfer of presidents and secretaries is a make-or-break issue for it.
"The issue is now open as the head office has written to all the circles to propose transfers of circle presidents and secretaries of the All India Punjab National Bank Officers Association out of station if they have completed six years of stay in the same station," said an association member in a message to all its office bearers.
The epicentre of the fraud at PNB was at mid corporate Brady House branch in Mumbai. Vigilance officers have been complaining of an unholy nexus between officers association and the management.
"Some of the association leaders are stationed at a single location for the past 20 years. The nexus with the management helps them to stay at one location and prevent transfers. But now with the spotlight on the officers, there is little that the management can do to prevent their transfers," said a former vigilance officer of the bank.
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A senior PNB official said, "This is the first time the transfers will be effected in all the circles at the same time. In the past also, we were transferring union and association members, but this time it will be across the board."
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