Playing down a strike by officers yesterday to protest the merger of State Bank of Saurashtra with its parent, SBI Chairman O P Bhatt on Tuesday claimed employees were in favour of the amalgamation.

Bhatt said, "There are some people who for some reason have called for a strike" but added that employees of SBI and associate banks are "very happy that this (merger) is happening."

"Because this (the proposed merger) is not something which has happened overnight," he told reporter on the sidelines of a function here. He said work on the merger was going on for about a year or so and "there has never been an issue about it".

Asked if he expected any hindrance to the merger, Bhatt said, "I don't think so."

Moreover, the chairman said that he was not aware of employees' concerns  over the merger.

"Do you know what are their concerns. I am not aware what their concerns are," he said.

Officers of SBI and its seven associate banks observed a strike yesterday to protest the merger while employees of other PSU banks have called for an agitation on August 20.