It was registered as Trade Union on 1st September 1944. Later on 26th January 1956 at the Annual General Meeting of the union it was decided to change the name of the union to Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union. It is important to mention that only the employees of the foreign Commercial Banks were enrolled as members of the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union. Bank of Ceylon joins Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union
In 1952 an unrest was created among the members of staff at the Bank of Ceylon when the management decided to withdraw the payment of Annual Bonus. This reason led to organize the Bank of Ceylon staff as a Trade Union. Several employees took leading role to establish a Trade Union confined to the employees of Bank of Ceylon. This was resented by the management by harassing, threatening, dismissing and announcing the denial of Provident Fund benefits to its members. But it did not take very long for Bank of Ceylon Employees’ to realize that isolation from an organization’s which covered the Banking Industry was a disadvantage. Then Bank of Ceylon employees to joined the Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union in 02nd November 1954. And established a Bank of Ceylon Branch Union.Which is to date the biggest Branch Union. The Branch Union produced several leaders who dedicated themselves for the betterment of the members as a result the union gained a vast number of members. Until 1977 the Office Bearers of the union were getting re-elected year after year as the Office Bearers of the Branch Union had won confidence of the membership. The independence of the union has been established by fighting with every government that had come to power. It is important to note that from the inception theUnion avoided the political patronage. The history records that several attempts were made to disrupt Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union. P’ers formed U.C.M.U at N.S.B in 1974. Since the employees of NSB were members of the CBEU strong opposition was staged against the formation of a New Union. The Management as well as then government ministers supported the U.C.M.U. However, the newly formed union failed to resolve the issues. In that instant the leaders of the new union tried to haras Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union members as usual their low down tactics have been miserably failed. In 1976 there was another attempt to form a another union in the banking sector Mrs. Felix Dias Bandaranayake the wife of the Minister of Finance came forward to start a new union. Which did not bear fruit and the attempt was still born. Soon after 1977 general elections political violence carried out throughout the country against all political opponents. From the time Branch Union was formed the leaders of the branch union were elected at the general membership meetings accordance with the constitution. Till 1977 the individuals had contested to the posts of Office Bearers. This long carried process was changed and different political aligned individuals formed groups and contested for the leadership, as a result in 1978 three groups contested namely Independent Group – Pragathi Front and Green circle at the Branch Union election held in 1978. Progressive Front (Now PragathiPeramuna) won the election of with a majority of 175 votes. After the Branch Union elections the members of “Green Circle” abundance their group and majority joined newly formed JSS which was formed at Bank of Ceylon in 1978. Comrades Ranjith Fernando, Valentine Merrinnage, DarellSellaiah, V. Thilainathna, Asoka Wimalasuriya, Emma Ratnayake, UpaliSamarasinghethe pioneers who led the Independent Group at the 1st Branch Union elections held in 1978 and was defeated by (PragathiPeramuna). However, in 1979 at the Branch Union elections Independent Group defeated PragathiPeramuna with a large majority and held the Branch Union leadership continuously till 1996. In 1998 the Independent Group lost at the branch elections and thereafter from year 2000 defeated PragathiPereamuna at the Branch Union elections with an increased majority. The success of the Independent Group is the Island-wide organization capacity and the strong foundation laid by the leaders in 1978.
