The United Forum of IDBI Officers and Employees has served notice for a one-day nationwide hunger strike and demonstrations scheduled for March 9, 2026. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, the Forum is demanding an immediate halt to the proposed strategic disinvestment process of IDBI Bank. In case their demands are not met, the Forum may be forced to intensify future agitation programmes with strike action for more than one day and may even include indefinite strike call without further notice. The strike comes amid broader concerns about toxic work culture in banks and calls for 5 days banking week by bank officers.
The Forum has expressed concern over the strategic sale process likely to be concluded by the end of the current financial year, i.e., March 2026. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, the Forum argues this timing is ill-timed as the bank has been registering consistent profitability and demonstrated significant improvement across key financial and operational parameters. The ill-timed move has caused deep concern among employees with respect to job security and social security benefits, including pension. The crisis in Indian banking has led to increased work pressure and is driving employees to despair, with bankers urging for 2 days off per week and demanding better working conditions.
The Forum's charter of demands includes restoration of Centre's shareholding to not less than 51 per cent to honour solemn assurances given to Parliament and assurance that IDBI Bank shall continue in the public sector. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, other demands include written statutory assurance safeguarding service conditions, pension and reservation policies, and tripartite consultation involving the Centre, bank management and unions/associations prior to any ownership restructuring. The Forum emphasizes that under Banking Regulation Act, change in shareholding beyond prescribed thresholds requires regulatory scrutiny and transfer of management control in a bank has systemic implications affecting depositors and financial stability.
The Forum is reaching out to RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat and Swadeshi Jagran Manch to prevail upon the Centre to call off privatisation move. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Forum leaders including Devidas Tuljapurkar, Convenor; and Ratnakar Wankhade and Vithal Koteshwara Rao, Joint Convenors stated they remain hopeful that the bank management and the Centre will intervene constructively to resolve the dispute in the interest of employees, depositors, and nation at large. The political outreach comes as bankers across the sector face mounting pressure, with Union Bank of India's new directive for weekend work at Retail Loan Points (RLPs) having sparked outrage among bankers.
