“Defend Jobs, Defend Job Security”: AIBEA National Youth Convention Concludes in Chennai

The Third National Youth Convention of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) concluded in Chennai on 12 August 2024. The two-day event saw the participation of around 1,200 young bankers with less than 10 years of service, focusing on the central theme of “Defend Jobs, Defend Job Security.”

(A motorbike rally organised in connection with the youth convention.)  

Challenges and The Path Ahead: Focal Point of Discussions

A key concern highlighted during the convention was the ongoing transformation within the banking industry, with particular emphasis on the challenges faced by public sector banks and their employees. Speaking to Kanal, A R Sujith Raju, All India General Secretary of the Federal Bank Employees Union, affiliated with AIBEA, addressed these challenges, noting the imminent threat of privatisation, job security issues, and the lack of recruitment.

“Banking industry is going through a phase of transformation. There are several challenges that the employees and the public sector banking are facing today, including the imminent threat of privatisation, job security, and lack of recruitment among others. As a result of several socio-political factors as well, there is a certain lack of enthusiasm among the young bankers towards unionisation,” Raju remarked. He also pointed out the managements’ efforts to discourage unionisation, which has also contributed to this lack of enthusiasm.

(A picture of the convention hall packed with young delegates.)  

The convention also discussed the limited presence of unions in new-generation banks like HDFC and ICICI, where many young employees are on contract. The AIBEA has resolved to expand its reach to these sectors, aiming to bring more young employees under its fold. Additionally, the issue of outsourced labour in scheduled banks was also addressed. The AIBEA plans to attract these young workers to join the union and strengthen their collective voice, Sujith Raju told Kanal.

(A picture of the presidium at the youth convention.) 

Regional Challenges
The convention also featured insights from delegates like Syam Kumar Das from Assam, who shared the specific challenges faced by bankers in the north-eastern region. In a promotional video uploaded to AIBEA’s official YouTube channel, he highlights the reduction in workmen staff strength as a significant issue, stressing the importance of maintaining adequate staffing to ensure the quality of service in public sector banks. “We are frontline workers on whom the service quality of the banks relies upon. Only if we are sufficient in number, we can retain the public sector banks’ image,” Das stated, advocating for a special recruitment drive in the north-eastern states.

(Young leaders presiding the convention)

The convention also resolved to resist the ongoing privatisation efforts, particularly concerning the IDBI Bank. AIBEA resolved to oppose any privatisation moves in the banking sector by all possible means with an increased participation of young bankers who are the future of the industry, Sujith Raju added.

At a time when the banking sector is witnessing a transformation, the National Youth Convention of the largest union of bank employees in India gains significance as it underscores the need for a stronger union presence among young bank employees to protect jobs and job security and to sustain the rapidly changing banking industry.