UCO Bank Officers in Bhagalpur Start ‘Work to Rule’ Protest Over High Stress and Work Pressure

Bhagalpur, Bihar: UCO Bank officers in Bhagalpur district have started a “Work to Rule” protest. The protest was organized by the Bihar State UCO Bank Officers’ Association, which is affiliated with the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and the National Bank Officers’ Association. According to the officers, the work pressure has increased a lot in UCO Bank, which has ultimately caused high stress levels and disturbed the work-life balance of officers.

All India UCO Bank Officers’ Federation President Chandra Mohan Singh said that every person must have eight hours for health, eight hours for family, and eight hours for work. He said, “Stop the pressure on women, disabled people, and officers”. Many bank employees are struggling to maintain a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives.

The officers’ union has accused the UCO Bank management in Bhagalpur of violating several guidelines. They said the management is ignoring the difficulties faced by employees. The officers have warned that if their issues are not resolved by Monday morning, they will hold a major protest on November 17, 2025. After that, state-wide protests will be carried out.

Poor Condition of PSU Banks

Banks across India are facing a serious crisis due to high work stress and a major shortage of staff. Employees in many public sector banks say that the workload has increased sharply over the past few years, while the number of staff has not been increased in the same proportion.

According to bank unions, thousands of posts in clerical and officer cadres are lying vacant because retirements are not being replaced in time. As a result, the remaining staff are forced to handle extra responsibilities, leading to long working hours and mental pressure.

Employees say that they often have to deal with customers, complete documentation work, meet targets, and handle digital transactions with very limited manpower. Many branches are functioning with fewer employees than required, causing heavy stress and difficulty in managing daily operations.

Bank employees say that despite the increasing stress, there is little improvement in working conditions. Several unions have demanded immediate recruitment, proper staff deployment, and relief from unnecessary pressure.