Bank employees to strike for 13 days between Dec 4-Jan 20

Mumbai: The All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), the largest workers' union in the banking sector, has scheduled a series of nationwide strikes between starting Dec 4 to January 20, demanding an increase in staff recruitment and to oppose outsourcing of regular jobs at public sector banks..

According to CH Venkatachalam, general secretary of AIBEA, there is a deliberate effort by the government and banks to reduce the number of employees in clerical and subordinate positions while increasing the number of supervisory staff. This is  aimed at decreasing the workforce governed by the Industrial Disputes Act.

“Similarly we also find that there is a naked attempt to outsource the regular and permanent jobs in the Banks on contractual basis with a view to avoid the payment of wages as per our bipartite settlement. Because of this, the recruitment of clerical staff in the Banks has come down drastically year after year and there is a virtual ban on appointment of subordinate staff and safaikaramchari employees. This has resulted in large number of persons being employed on temporary and casual basis without proper remuneration,” said Venkatachalam.

The AIBEA's strike plan includes a strike in various nationalised and private banks from December 4 to 11. Subsequently, from  January 2-6, bank employees in different states will participate in strike actions. This will be followed by a two day all India bankers strike on January 19-20, 2024.