The All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA) has asked its members to ignore criticism on social media and maintain unity within the trade union movement following the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) decision to defer the proposed bank strike.
In a circular dated October 3, 2026, AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said social media platforms have seen several comments and posts criticising UFBU, AIBEA and other unions after the strike was deferred. The circular said some posts have made allegations against union leaders and questioned their honesty and financial integrity. AIBEA said some members had suggested taking legal action over such posts.
The association said criticism of its decisions is not new. It referred to its long history and said that similar criticism had been faced when AIBEA achieved the bipartite system in 1966, bank nationalisation in 1969 and the Pension Settlement in 1993.
AIBEA also referred to criticism faced by UFBU over strike decisions. According to the circular, when unions go on strike, they are criticised over the loss of salary to employees, while when a strike is deferred, allegations are made against union leaders. The association said that such criticism had existed in the past but has become more visible because of social media platforms.
The circular asked AIBEA members who are active on social media to respond to anti-AIBEA and anti-UFBU messages. At the same time, the association asked members to distinguish between deliberate criticism and genuine questions from employees.
AIBEA said many members, particularly younger employees, genuinely want to understand why the strike was deferred at the last minute when preparations for the strike were already underway. The association said it is the democratic right of members to raise questions and seek clarification from their union. It asked members to approach their union leaders for answers and said that online and physical meetings are being organised to explain the developments.
On the unity of UFBU, AIBEA said the seven unions under the UFBU have their own individual views but remain united on issues concerning bank employees and officers. It said recent agitation programmes were decided with unity and that the decision to defer the strike was also taken unanimously in view of the developments.
AIBEA described UFBU as a platform that brings together bank employees and officers across different cadres and designations. The association said maintaining this unity is important and called on members to further strengthen UFBU.
The circular also warned members about what AIBEA described as attempts by rival forces to divide unions and incite employees on political grounds. It said AIBEA is a mass organisation whose members hold different political views and asked unions and members to remain cautious about such efforts.
Looking at the future, AIBEA said the experience of its 80-year journey shows that unity is important for the strength of the union. It said consistent struggle is necessary to achieve results and that there is no shortcut in trade union activities.
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