AIPNBOF Explains Strike ‘A Reminder to Fulfil Commitments Made to Officers’

 “We have delivered our part — the bank’s performance and profits have grown. Now we only request management to deliver on its word and implement the 100% reimbursement, as well as address our other pending demands,” he said.

‘Medical Aid Must Be Linked To The New Basic Pay’
Another major issue, according to Krishna Kumar, is the linkage of medical aid with the current basic pay.
“After the amalgamation of Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India with PNB, there was a solemn promise from the government that all allowances and benefits enjoyed by employees of these banks would continue. For two years, this was followed — medical aid was linked to basic pay. But after the implementation of the 9th Joint Note from November 2022, this linkage stopped,” he said.

 “This has disrupted family life, mental peace, and even customer service, because a tired banker cannot serve customers properly the next day. We want this illegal and exploitative practice to stop,” he stressed.

‘Both Associations Must Be Treated Equally’
The AIPNBOF has also demanded equal treatment for officers’ associations in the bank’s decision-making and consultations.
“The majority association gets the right to hold structured meetings with management every quarter. We are denied that opportunity. We also do not get leave for union work, while others do. One of our officers from a rural branch had to take personal leave just to attend a meeting at the circle office,” he said.

“All associations should be treated equally. This favouritism must end — it hurts genuine dialogue and the interests of thousands of our members,” he said.

‘Staff Shortage is Affecting Both Employees and Customers’
Discussing the broader impact of staff shortages, Krishna Kumar pointed out that Public Sector Banks (PSB) are severely understaffed compared to their Private Sectors.
“In the last five years, staff strength in PSBs has fallen by about one lakh, while business volumes have more than doubled. Some branches now have only four or five employees. PNB, with over 10,200 branches, has around 1.3 lakh employees — barely half of what HDFC Bank has with fewer branches,” he explained.

He said the shortage affects customer service, increases stress, and discourages young people from joining PSBs.
“This year, 1,800 new officers were supposed to join PNB, but only 800 joined. The stress levels and working conditions are discouraging new talent. If this continues, service quality will suffer further. The government must permit recruitment to strengthen PSBs,” he said.

‘We Hope Management Listens’
Concluding the conversation, Krishna Kumar said the 10th October strike is meant to remind the management and the government to act, not to disrupt operations.

“We want the Government of India to honour its commitment on five-day banking, and we want our own PNB management to implement what was promised — 100% perquisite tax reimbursement, medical aid linkage, and an end to digital arrest,” he said.

He added that if the demands remain unresolved, the federation will plan a longer and more intense action in the future.

“We understand the importance of the bank’s business and the role it plays in our own livelihood. We don’t want disruption — we only want our genuine demands accepted. We hope the management listens this time,” he concluded.

The October 10 strike by AIPNBOF stands out not for confrontation, but for its call for accountability and respect for promises made. The federation’s key demands — financial fairness, humane working conditions, and equal representation — reflect the growing strain on officers and the urgent need for a balanced approach between profitability and employee welfare.

Read more about the October 9 strike and the pressing demand for five-day banking in our detailed coverage: Five-Day Banking: ‘How Long Can We Wait?’ – AIPNBOF on Strike

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