In a powerful demonstration of unity, more than 1,500 employees from across India gathered in Aluva, Kerala, to march to the headquarters of Federal Bank. The march, organized by the Federal Bank Employees’ Union (FBEU), affiliated with the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), aimed to press for several longstanding demands. Among the key issues raised were the recruitment of personnel for the positions of Clerk, Peon, and Sweeper, as well as the regularisation of temporary, contract, and outsourced workers. Click on pics below to view in full screen 👇
The employees also urged the bank’s management to uphold industrial agreements and implement the union’s charter of demands, which had been delayed for an extended period. According to FBEU, despite repeated efforts to address these concerns through discussions, the management has failed to take significant action. The protest is part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the staff shortages and unfair labour practices affecting the institution, concerns that have surfaced in similar protests across the country.
As part of their agitation, the FBEU also staged a one-day hunger strike during the Onam festive season. Following the march, a protest meeting was held at Aluva Municipal Town Hall, inaugurated by Benny Behanan, Member of the Lok Sabha. In his address, Behanan criticized the bank’s management for its failure to resolve the employees’ demands. “It is undemocratic for the management to ignore and delay addressing the issues raised by employees, even after two years,” he stated. Behanan urged the bank’s leadership to promptly address the workers’ legitimate concerns and engage in discussions to prevent further unrest.