The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has announced a two-day nationwide strike on May 25-26, demanding resolution of employee issues and recruitment of sub-staff and armed guards. According to reports from The Economic Times, the federation staged a dharna in front of a key administrative office on Monday, with more than 100 employees participating in the protest. The strike notice specifically covers employees in the workmen category who owe allegiance to the union under provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act.
The federation is pressing for a 16-point charter of demands, including stopping mis-selling of insurance products and filling staff vacancies. As reported by The Economic Times, the union alleged that large-scale mis-selling of insurance products driven by targets and business pressure has led to customers being sold unsuitable products without proper disclosure. The federation claimed that bilateral mechanisms for resolving employee issues were not working satisfactorily and there had been mal-implementation/non-implementation of settlements and agreements. Union leaders argue these steps are vital for the bank's operations and maintaining customer confidence.
The strike announcement comes amid SBI's record profit of ₹80,000 crore, raising questions about employee compensation and working conditions. According to social media posts, employees are expressing concerns about the bank's reward structure, with some questioning why staff should be treated as salespeople despite the bank's strong financial performance. The union's leadership has emphasized that 5 days of banking is not possible without union support, positioning themselves as the backbone of employee welfare while criticizing what they perceive as management's focus on productivity over employee well-being.
The current agitation is part of a series of nationwide protests launched by the federation over the past week. According to The Economic Times, the federation has already conducted badge-wearing protests, lunchtime demonstrations, social media campaigns, and submission of memoranda to MPs and government authorities. Leaders of the federation's Kolkata Circle unit addressed the gathering and explained the justification behind the demands while asking members to prepare for a larger movement in the coming days. The next phase will include candle march processions and the proposed all-India bank strike later this month. As reported by Kanal Media, there will also be a Twitter Space discussion on May 25-26 covering the ongoing SBI employees' agitation and issues being raised by bank unions across India.
