Patna: The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has called for a two-day nationwide bank strike on May 25 and 26 in protest against pending demands and proposed changes in employee service conditions.
The federation said the decision was taken after growing dissatisfaction among employees over the management’s approach towards staff-related matters. According to the organisation, decisions concerning employee service conditions have traditionally been taken through mutual agreement between the management and staff federation, but recent developments have triggered resentment among employees.
State Bank of India Staff Association, Patna Circle General Secretary Shashi Bhushan Singh said that this is the first time in nearly six decades that the SBI employees’ union has issued a notice for a nationwide strike.
Key Demands of Employees
The federation has raised several demands related to recruitment, pension, transfers and working conditions.
Among the major demands is the immediate recruitment of messengers and armed guards in the bank.
Employees are also demanding implementation of inter-circle transfer policies for staff members working since 2019.
On pension-related issues, the federation has sought the option for employees under the National Pension System (NPS) to change pension fund managers and has demanded revision of pensions for retired employees.
The organisation has also opposed outsourcing of permanent nature jobs and demanded an immediate halt to such practices.
Other demands include improvement in the medical reimbursement scheme, quick resolution of technical issues related to the Human Resource Management System (HRMS), adequate staff recruitment and a review of the career progression policy.
Protests Began Earlier This Month
The federation has already started phased protest programmes from May 4 to demonstrate unity among employees.
As part of the protest, employees across branches and administrative offices nationwide have been wearing black badges while on duty.
The federation warned that if the management fails to address the demands, the agitation could intensify further in the coming days.
