Punjab & Sind Bank Officers Announce Nationwide Strike on May 19 Over Transfer and Promotion Policies

Over 5,000 officers of Punjab & Sind Bank are set to go on a one-day nationwide strike on May 19, as declared by the United Forum of Punjab & Sind Bank Unions (UFPSBU). The strike has been announced in protest against the bank’s new transfer and promotion policies. According to Bank Employees, these new policies were implemented without consultation and are discriminatory in nature.

The UFPSBU, which includes the All India Punjab & Sind Bank Officers’ Federation (AIPSBOF) and the All India Punjab & Sind Bank Officers Union (AIPSBOU), issued a formal strike notice to the bank’s top management and the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The notice was submitted under Section 22(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which governs legal strike procedures in public sector undertakings. [Also Read: Bank and Insurance Employees announce Strike on 20 May; SBI, LIC will remain closed]

Key Demands of the Strike

The officers have raised five major concerns in their strike notice:

1. Withdrawal of the Transfer Policy:
   The union is demanding an immediate rollback of the Transfer Policy issued on March 24, 2025, which they say was introduced without consultation and has resulted in unfair transfers.
2. Joint Drafting of a New Transfer Policy:
   UFPSBU wants a new transfer policy to be prepared in consultation with the union, ensuring fair treatment for all officers.
3. Promotion Policy Reforms:
   The officers allege lack of transparency in the current promotion process. They are demanding:
   • Clear representation for branch-level staff among those promoted.
   • Disclosure of evaluation marks from interviews and group discussions conducted for the 2025–26 promotion cycle.
4. End to Misuse of Disciplinary Actions:
   The union accuses some Zonal Managers of misusing disciplinary proceedings to target selected officers while ignoring serious failures by others.
5. Stop Favoritism and Discriminatory Practices:
   Officers have raised concerns about unfair transfers and favoritism, particularly in postings to and from head offices and controlling offices.

Background and Growing Frustration

UFPSBU leaders say that since the transfer policy was enforced, the bank has ignored repeated representations and requests for dialogue. Instead of engaging in discussions, management has allegedly provided vague or no replies to union letters. This has created a toxic work culture within the bank, undermining employee morale and trust.

Regarding promotions, union officials claim that officers working in branches are being sidelined, while promotions are mostly going to those working at administrative or controlling offices. They further allege that the evaluation process, especially for KYC-AML and Compliance exams, is biased in favor of certain staff, limiting fair opportunities for branch-level officers.

They have also highlighted instances where minor errors by branch staff are punished harshly, while major lapses in loan management or NPA handling at higher offices go unchecked. This is totally unfair, and staff should not be punished for minor errors.

Call for Fairness and Dialogue

In their notice, UFPSBU emphasized the need for the bank to engage in meaningful dialogue, adopt transparent procedures, and follow government-issued guidelines to restore fairness. The union insists that their demands are not just about transfers or promotions, but about ensuring equal treatment and a healthy work environment for all officers. Click here to read more news.

Strike Plans and Official Notice

The one-day full-day strike is scheduled for Monday, May 19, 2025. Copies of the strike notice have been sent to:

• The Managing Director & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank
• The Chief Labour Commissioner (Central)
• Top officials in the bank’s Human Resources Department
• National officer unions AIBOA and AIBOC

Union leaders Ratneshwar Chaudhary and G.S. Khera have signed the notice stating that the strike is a last resort after all efforts for dialogue were ignored.

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