The 40th Foundation Day of the All India Bank Officers Confederation, the largest organization for bank officers in the world, is being celebrated across the country on October 6, 2024. The All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), established on October 6, 1985, is one of India’s leading trade union organizations. It serves as a central body representing the trade unions of supervisory staff members from various banking companies operating in the country.
How AIBOC was born?
The trade union movement for bank officers in India has been both unique and significant. Until the early 1960s, bank management treated officers as tools to further their own interests, without giving them any rights. Officers faced strict working conditions and various injustices, and they felt socially and culturally isolated. The idea of a trade union seemed impossible to them. Over time, resentment grew among officers, who felt suppressed and unhappy.
The growing trade union activities among workers highlighted the need for officers to form their own associations. In the mid-1960s, a small group of courageous officers from different banks decided to take action. They created Officers’ Associations in the Bank of India, Central Bank of India, State Bank of India, and UCO Bank. This was not an easy process; there was a lot of suspicion and fear.
The nationalization of 14 major banks in 1969 changed everything. This event was not only important for the economy but also marked a turning point for bank officers. A significant strike by State Bank of India officers in 1969 energized the movement. Officers began to push their issues to the government level, which led to the creation of the All India Confederation of Bank Officers’ Organisations (AICOBOO) in 1972. This organization fought against unfair policies, anti-labor laws, and called for salary revisions.
As AICOBOO began to stray from its original goals, there was a clear need to form a new organization. This led to the foundation conference held on October 6, 1985, in New Delhi, which gave rise to a strong and active group: the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC).
40th Foundation Day celebrations
As part of the 40th Foundation Day celebrations, different groups within the organization will held various social programs, such as tree planting, sports competitions, blood donation camps, and other activities to promote unity and friendship among members. On this special occasion, the UP unit held a sapling distribution program at Janeshwar Mishra Park to help make the earth greener. This event was led by Secretary Shri Laxman Singh.
Other leaders, including R.N. Shukla, the National President of the All India Indian Bank Officers’ Association, Vinay Srivastava, former General Secretary of the Union Bank Officers Association, Hari Gupta, Executive President of AIBOC (UP), Vivek Pandey, Sheshdhar Rao from the Central Bank, Abhishek Srivastava of BOIOA (UP & UK), and Bholendra Pratap Singh, General Secretary of the Aryavart Bank Officers Association, along with many bank officers from different banks participated in the event.
During the program, the leaders expressed their worry about the declining work-life balance in banks. They promised to stand together to face any challenges in the future. They also highlighted the need to educate new employees about the struggles AIBOC has faced to protect the interests of bank officers. This understanding will help build a sense of commitment to the organization, ensuring that everyone knows their rights and responsibilities, which is important for the success of future efforts.
