A strike by the Federation of Indian Bank Employees Union, scheduled for April 25, 2025, has been postponed following conciliation proceedings held today in Chennai under the supervision of the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), Mr. S.A. Saravanan.
Background of Strike
The Federation of Indian Bank Employees Union had earlier issued a strike notice on March 29, 2025, highlighting long-standing unresolved demands related to staffing, promotions, and transfer policies. The strike was set to take place on April 25 if no amicable solution was reached.
Conciliation Proceedings
The conciliation meeting held on April 23 brought together representatives from both the union and Indian Bank’s management. Representing the union was Shri E. Arunachalam, Secretary General. On the management side, the attendees included Shri B. Kumar Doure (DGM-HR), Shri Partha Ghosh (AGM-HR), and Shri Rohan Anand (Senior Manager-Law).
Earlier bilateral meetings had already been initiated by Indian Bank on April 15. Additionally, the Conciliation Officer had issued notices for formal discussions on April 15 and April 21 to facilitate a resolution.
Despite initial discussions, the union was dissatisfied with the outcome of the bilateral meeting on April 22, as the minutes shared with them did not include a time-bound plan for resolving their issues. Consequently, the union reiterated its concerns and emphasized the urgency of a meaningful settlement.
Charter of Demands
During the proceedings, the union submitted a detailed charter comprising 54 demands. The major points included:
- Recruitment of essential staff – including clerks, sub-staff, sweepers, and armed guards.
- Promotion policies – advocating for fair promotion from sub-staff to clerical cadre.
- Transfer policies – implementation of an integrated and transparent transfer framework.
- Regularization of part-time workers – specifically the conversion of part-time sweepers to full-time sub-staff roles.
These demands, according to the union, are critical to ensuring employee welfare and smooth banking operations.
Management’s Response
Indian Bank’s management responded positively during the meeting. They assured the union and the Conciliation Officer that a dedicated committee would soon be formed to look into the union’s demands. The management reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issues in a constructive and time-bound manner.
Intervention and Outcome
Mr. S.A. Saravanan, the Conciliation Officer, played a pivotal role in facilitating dialogue between the two parties. He advised the union to defer the proposed strike to give the bank management reasonable time to take concrete action. He also urged the management to expedite the resolution process to maintain industrial peace and stability.
Following the Officer’s advice and in the interest of avoiding disruption to banking services, both parties agreed to postpone the strike. As a result, the nationwide strike proposed for April 25, 2025, stands officially withdrawn.
Significance
This development comes as a relief to millions of Indian Bank customers and stakeholders who would have been impacted by the strike. It also marks a positive step in industrial relations between the bank and its workforce, paving the way for more transparent and timely conflict resolution in the future.
