AIRRBEA Calls on UFBU to Address RRB Concerns in Nationwide Strike

The All India Regional Rural Bank Employees Association (AIRRBEA) has announced its decision to join the two-day nationwide banking strike on March 24-25, 2025, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The association has also urged UFBU to include Regional Rural Bank (RRB) issues in its list of demands and recognize AIRRBEA as a constituent member of UFBU.

Demand for RRB Issues to Be Addressed

In a letter dated February 15, 2025, addressed to the UFBU Convenor, AIRRBEA expressed its long-standing demand for better representation of RRB employees within the banking sector's joint movement. The letter states:

"We have been writing to the UFBU from time to time with a request to include RRB issues in the demand list of the UFBU in consultation with AIRRBEA, representing more than 70% of the workforce, both workmen and officers. Unfortunately, we have not received any reply to our series of letters. Now, once again, we must reiterate our stand.

Image: AIRRBEA letter to the UFBU Convenor urging inclusion of RRB issues in upcoming two day strike.

Speaking to Kanal, S. Venkateshwar Reddy stated, “For the last six to seven years, AIRRBEA has been urging UFBU to address RRB concerns in the nationwide strike, strengthening the broader cause of the banking sector. However, we are still awaiting a positive response.”

AIRRBEA’s Additional Demands for the RRB Sector

AIRRBEA has formally served a strike notice to the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Financial Services, extending its support to UFBU’s demands while also pressing for RRB-specific concerns. In the letter, it listed the concerns demanding immediate resolutions. The demands stated by AIRRBEA are as follows:

Alongside these broader industry-wide demands, AIRRBEA has listed additional concerns specific to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs):

1. Formation of the National Rural Bank of India (NRBI) by consolidating state-level RRBs and delinking them from sponsor banks.
2. Revision of promotion rules and manpower norms to address widespread staff shortages.
3. Regularization of part-time, casual, and daily-wage staff, in line with Supreme Court directives and APGVB’s model.
4. Wage parity and staff benefits at par with commercial banks, ensuring full implementation of the government order dated July 8, 2024.
5. Proper execution of pension parity and computer increment from November 1, 1993, with accountability for non-compliance.
6. Equal implementation of the Compassionate Appointment Scheme, ensuring fair treatment of RRB employees in line with nationalized banks.

Image: The demands of AIRRBEA to be placed during the 2 day nationwide strike  

Call for Unified Representation

AIRRBEA emphasized that excluding RRBs from UFBU’s platform weakens the joint movement of bank employees, particularly as RRBs operate over 22,000 branches in rural India. The association has urged UFBU to formally integrate AIRRBEA constituents, ensuring greater participation and a unified front in advocating for employee rights.

With AIRRBEA’s participation, the upcoming strike is set to impact banking operations nationwide, including crucial rural banking services. The focus now shifts to UFBU’s response and whether it will accommodate AIRRBEA’s long-standing request for inclusion.