Employees of Union Bank of India (UBI) are gearing up for a one-day strike scheduled for January 25, orchestrated by the Joint Forum of Union Bank Unions. The strike is underpinned by a comprehensive 14-point charter of demands, with specific emphasis on critical issues such as recruitment procedures and staff regularization.
Major Demands Include:
- Recruitment of clerical staff through IBPS exams.
- Regularisation of sub-staff and contract, casual, and temporary staff in the sub-staff category.
Additional Demands:
Aside from the major points, the demands extend to ensuring minimum wages for casual employees, relieving staff holding transfers, and addressing concerns related to higher assignment orders.
Protest Activities and Awareness:
Leading up to the strike, the Joint Forum is actively organizing protests across the country in front of UBI regional offices. Employees are set to wear demand badges on January 24, a day before the one-day national strike.
UBI Overview:
Having become one of the largest public sector banks in the country, with over 8,700 branches after merging with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank in 2020, UBI reported a substantial 90% increase in profit during the second quarter of the 2024 fiscal year.
Union Concerns and Statements:
Despite the profit surge, unions allege a significant number of unfilled vacancies in clerical and sub-staff categories. K R Unni Krishnan, the general secretary of the Union Bank of India Employees Federation (Kerala), underscores the urgency of recruitment in these crucial areas.
Labor System Challenges:
The unions highlight the plight of thousands employed under contract and casual labor systems, advocating for their absorption as regular employees. Temporary workers are expected to receive minimum wages until regularisation.
Participating Unions and Total Demands:
The four unions, including All India Union Bank Staff Federation, have collectively raised 14 demands addressing service conditions and employee benefits.
Additional Forum Oppositions and Urgencies:
In addition to their demands, the Joint Forum opposes delays in staff transfers and higher assignment orders. They urge the bank to expedite the promotion of clerks and sub-staff with effect from April 1, 2023.
Protest Activities Leading to National Strike:
With three regional office dharnas already conducted and three more scheduled before January 20, the employees are set to observe January 24 as the ‘badge-wearing’ day to reinforce their demands.
Anticipated Impact of National Strike:
The one-day national strike on January 25 is expected to disrupt services, as banks will remain closed for the subsequent three days from January 26.
Hello,Andhrabank union people r cheat now.Non of the erstwhile people r shameless people.
Merger of banks has taken a toll on the employees besides affecting the customer service to a great extent. Neither the bank employees nor the customers are happy with the merger of the banks. Just imagine,a stage has come where the bank employees have to go on strike to get the required staff strength .
Never ever believe these union guys. They are mostly affiliated to communist entities and subserve the interests of no good fellows, not of bank officers or employees. Throw them out. That will be the best way to deal with thes people