Tamil Nadu Bank Employees’ Federations’s 24th State Conference Concludes with Call for Unity, All Eyes Now on Nationwide Strike

Image: Inaugural Session of TNBEF’s 24th State Conference in Chennai, as union leaders address a packed hall of delegates and members.
(Source: Mr. C.H. Venkatachalam)

The conference, a grand show of unity, deliberation, and direction, opened with the hoisting of the federation’s flag and a ceremonial procession to the venue. The Inaugural Public Session was presided over by Mr. C.H. Venkatachalam, Chairman of TNBEF and General Secretary of All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), while Mr. Rajen Nagar, President of AIBEA, formally inaugurated the session.

• Contractualisation and outsourcing trends in banking
• The need for job security across cooperative and correspondent staff
• Resistance to privatisation of public sector banks
• Strengthening of collective bargaining power
• Unity among permanent, temporary, and outsourced employees

The conference ended with the election of a new team of office-bearers and a resounding call to intensify the campaign for banking sector justice.

Strike on July 9 – A Call for National Resistance
Even as the conference concluded, the focus shifted towards preparation and mobilisation for the upcoming nationwide general strike on July 9, 2025. All major bank unions under the banner of AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI, and others declared full support for the strike.

Image: Document highlighting key demands and reasons for the July 9 strike, endorsed by AIBEA, BEFI, AIBOA, and others.

The strike, supported also by AIIEA, GIEAIA, and AILICEF, is a unified protest against:

• Anti-people economic policies
• Regressive labour code reforms
• Rising job insecurity and casualisation
• Continued attacks on union rights

The federations have appealed to all bank employees, insurance sector workers, and allied services to stand united on the strike day, urging every unit to hold preparatory meetings, distribute literature, and organise workplace campaigns.

Mass Meeting in Chennai Rallies Workers Ahead of July 9 Strike
As part of the preparations for the July 9 strike, a powerful demonstration and mass meeting was held on 26th June 2025 at Sir Pitty Theagaraya Hall, Chennai. Convened by major unions including AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI, SZIEF, GIEAIA, and AILICEF-SZ, the meeting drew a large crowd of bank and insurance employees. Leading voices like Mr. C.H. Venkatachalam, Mr. E. Arunachalam, Mr. T.M. Murthy, and Mr. Elangovan addressed the gathering, calling for intensified resistance to anti-worker policies. The event marked a crucial moment in building momentum for the nationwide general strike.

Image: Call for Mass Demonstration and Meeting on 26th June at Sir Pitty Theagaraya Hall, Chennai, in protest against anti-worker and anti-people reforms.

Image: Top leaders from AIBEA, AIBOA, CITU, AITUC, BEFI, and others to address the meeting, mobilising support for the July 9 general strike.

“Unite and Fight”—The Road Ahead
Speaking at the valedictory session, Mr. C.H. Venkatachalam remarked, “This is not just a fight to protect jobs, it is a fight to protect dignity, democracy, and the very soul of public sector banking.”

The TNBEF’s 24th State Conference concluded with key decisions, organisational resolutions, and preparations for the upcoming nationwide strike.