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Bank of Maharashtra Employees’ Strike Brings Banking Operations to a Standstill Across India
The Bank of Maharashtra employees' strike on March 20, 2025, disrupted banking operations nationwide, with around 80% workforce participation. Major branches faced limited services, especially in Maharashtra. Supported by key banking unions, the protest highlighted staff shortages and policy concerns, with further strikes planned on March 24-25.
Author: Neha Bodke
Published: March 20, 2025
On March 20, 2025, employees of the Bank of Maharashtra initiated a nationwide strike, affecting approximately 80% of the workforce, primarily from clerical and sub-staff categories. With around 2,500 branches across the country, the strike has caused significant disruption in banking operations, especially in Maharashtra, where the bank holds a dominant presence in rural areas.
While some branches remain formally open, services have been significantly impacted as local management has had to deploy officers to handle basic transactions. Hundreds of branches are technically open, but most are functioning with minimal operations.The strike, which lasted for the entire working day, will be followed by the further agitation on March 24 and 25, 2025.
The strike has been called to protest staff shortages and key policy concerns that have affected employees’ working conditions. Protesters are demanding adequate workforce allocation, improved management decisions, and better operational policies to ensure smoother banking services. They argue that the existing staff shortage puts excessive pressure on employees, impacting efficiency and customer service. The strike highlights the need for stronger workforce planning and fairer policies to support both employees and customers.
Devidas Tuljapurkar, General Secretary of the Maharashtra State Bank Employees Federation (MSBEF) and the All India Bank of Maharashtra Employees Federation (AIBOMEF) stated, "We have received support from several unions across the country, including Kolkata, Indore Delhi and Uttar Pradesh," The strike has gathered widespread support from various unions, including the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) and the All India Bank of India Staff Federation.
Read More: Bank of Maharashtra Faces Massive Staff Shortage, Overburdening Employees
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Operations such as ATM withdrawals and online banking are largely unaffected, as the bank has shifted to in-house cash refilling due to a recent guideline by the Reserve Bank of India.
"Cash refilling is now done internally, and by afternoon, most ATMs might be out of cash," said Tuljapurkar.
The strike is expected to cause a substantial financial impact, particularly in rural Maharashtra, where the bank has a large customer base. While the exact financial losses remain uncertain, the strike has severely impacted daily banking services, with branches in rural areas most affected.