Indian Bank Employees Protest Staff Shortage, Announce Nationwide Strike

Indian Bank employees from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, held coordinated protests on April 11, raising concerns over staff shortages, pending compassionate appointments, and delayed internal reforms. The demonstrations were led by the Federation of Indian Bank Employees Unions (FIBEU) and included employees from multiple branches who wore black badges and submitted memorandums to zonal authorities.

The protests highlighted the ongoing issue of staff shortages, particularly in clerical positions, sub-staff, sweepers, and drivers. Despite the bank's consistent profitability over the past two decades, union representatives say that recruitment has not kept pace with the growing business and workload, leading to increased pressure on existing employees. This, they argue, has also impacted customer service, with longer wait times and dissatisfied customers.

Image: FIBEU’s official circular dated March 18, 2025, listing 54 long-pending demands and outlining the strike action program.

Image: FIBEU’s official circular dated March 18, 2025, listing 54 long-pending demands and outlining the strike action program. 

A significant demand raised by the employees is the non-implementation of a revised transfer policy after the 2020 merger of Allahabad Bank with Indian Bank. Union members claim that many employees are still waiting for fair transfers, which were promised as part of the post-merger restructuring. The lack of a clear and timely transfer policy has caused personal hardships and created uncertainty for many employees.

Another major concern voiced during the protest is the processing of compassionate appointments, which provide jobs to the dependents of employees who passed away while in service. According to the union, numerous cases are still pending, and families are waiting for the promised support.

The union also raised concerns about the lack of career progression for permanent part-time sweepers, non-release of promotion orders for sub-staff, and delays in fulfilling commitments under existing promotion policy settlements. Additionally, they noted that applications for pension loans are being denied to some retirees based on credit scores, and that temporary employees are still awaiting regularization, wage parity, and bonus eligibility.

FIBEU also highlighted several welfare-related concerns that remain unresolved. These include calls for an increase in staff housing and vehicle loan limits, full reimbursement for spectacles to part-time sweepers, improved uniform allowances for sub-staff, and fuel reimbursements based on actual usage rather than a fixed lump sum. Employees have also demanded action under the PoSH Act, calling on the bank to strengthen workplace mechanisms to protect women from harassment.

Another pressing issue raised by the union relates to the denial of transfer orders under specific categories such as "Spouse Joining Spouse" and for employees with benchmark disabilities or care-giving responsibilities. Union leaders allege that the administration has been misinterpreting or ignoring agreed-upon guidelines, further adding to employee frustration.

The April 11 protest was part of a broader campaign leading up to a nationwide strike on April 25, organized by FIBEU to press for 54 chartered demands. While the full list of demands has not been made public, it includes calls for reforms in staffing, transfers, appointments, safety, pension, and fair treatment of temporary staff.

Image: The official strike notice issued by FIBEU calling for an all-India protest by Indian Bank employees on April 25, 2025.

In the days leading up to the strike, employees staged sit-ins at zonal and Field General Manager (FGM) offices on April 16. The employees are planning to hold dharna at the Corporate Office in Chennai on April 19. Mass memorandums were submitted to the bank’s top management before April 5 as a part of the coordinated agitation.

FIBEU has called on the Indian Bank and the Ministry of Finance to resolve these issues without delay. So far, Indian Bank’s management has not issued an official response. The union warns that unresolved grievances have already led to multiple industrial disputes being referred to the Central Government Industrial Tribunal—a rare escalation in recent years.