17.6.2013
Long  Live R J Sridharan's Glory

RJS, a Veteran TU leader in the Banking industry

V Balasubramanian

When I had the honour  of  participating in the  function  organised for relaunching  the Two Roses magazine of All India Bank employees Association (Aibea) and All India bank officers' association (Aiboa) on Feb 14, 2013, I never imagined that I will be paying floral tributes to my great friend and Aiboa Chairman, Comrade R J Sridharan,who expired in Chennai on June 15, 2013.

RJS was a veteran trade union leader in the banking industry and a reservoir of knowledge. I have known him from my early days in business journalism. I came into contact with him in 1981 when I was in FE and when RJS along with senior leaders had founded Aiboa. It was to challenge the dominence of Aicoboo and later Aiboc in the industry representing officers. RJS had to  struggle a lot and wage a grim battle with bankers and rival unions  to get into the negotiating table.

RJS was instrumental in getting pension as a third benefit for the lakhs of bankmen ( as available to those in SBI). He spent sleepless nights to structure the formula and convince the bankers and Government. He was also one of the architects in the formation  of united forum for bank employees and officers.

In my FE and ET days, RJS helped in writing several reports and exclusives on wage revision for bank employees and officers, moratorium on old generation private sector banks like Nedungadi Bank, Bank of Thanjavur, Bank of Tamil Nadu, Bank of Cochin and their merger with public sector banks etc. A soft spoken and friendly person, RJS was very articulate while taking queries from media.


 RJS was also an excellent guide and trainer and established a residential training centre, named after late Com Tarakeswar, at Mamallapuram near Chennai. During his life, despite his ill-health and heart problem, RJS worked for the well being of unorganised workers. He had big plans for expanding his training programme for imparting skills to this section of workers.

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