UCO Bank Employees announce Strike on 21 and 22 April: The All India UCO Bank Officers’ Federation (AIUCBOF) has strongly opposed the bank’s latest transfer policy, calling it “anti-officer” and a deliberate attempt to suppress employees’ rights. In a letter to the Managing Director & CEO of UCO Bank, General Secretary Sandeep Chowbey has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the revised transfer policy dated March 29, 2025, and improvements in officers’ service conditions.
UCO Bank Strike announced on 21 and 22 April 2025
Frustrated by the lack of response from the management, AIUCBOF has announced a nationwide organizational agitation starting April 2, 2025, and a two-day strike on April 21-22, 2025. The union has warned that further action may be taken if their grievances are not addressed. The federation has raised several objections regarding the transfer policy, such as:
- Unilateral Changes: The policy was revised twice in five months without incorporating officers’ inputs.
- Deterioration of Service Conditions: Key provisions, such as repatriation rules, transfer exemptions, and work-life balance considerations, have been altered against officers’ interests.
- Anti-Lady Officer Provisions: AIUCBOF has accused the bank of not implementing transfer benefits for female officers in the true spirit of the policy.
- Reduction in Maximum Retention Period: The allowed tenure has been reduced from 13 years to 8 years, causing distress among officers.
- Unfair Performance-Based Transfers: The bank has linked punishment transfers to performance, a move AIUCBOF calls subjective and prone to misuse.
Attack on Trade Unions Alleged
The union has also accused the bank of attempting to weaken trade unions by reducing exemptions for office bearers and introducing arbitrary restrictions on union leaders’ tenure. AIUCBOF warns that this move threatens the democratic representation of officers within the bank. Apart from the transfer policy, AIUCBOF has highlighted other longstanding issues, including:
- Acute staff shortages, forcing officers to perform clerical duties.
- Excessive work hours and unpaid overtime leading to health hazards.
- Workplace harassment, including misbehavior from senior management and punitive transfers for raising concerns.
- Lack of financial relief, such as TDS absorption on perquisites, despite other banks providing this benefit.
Federation Demands Immediate Action
AIUCBOF has urged UCO Bank to reconsider the policy and hold discussions with officers before implementing any changes. The federation maintains that officers in Scales I, II, and III are crucial in driving the bank’s business and should not be subjected to arbitrary policies that undermine their rights. With the April 21-22 strike looming, the ball is now in UCO Bank management’s court to address officers’ grievances and avoid disruption in banking services.
