The Joint Forum of Union Bank Unions Raises Concerns Over Rotation Transfer Policy in Union Bank of India

The ongoing dispute regarding the rotation transfer policy for Award Staff in Union Bank of India has once again come to the forefront, with the Joint Forum of Union Bank Unions (JFUBU) issuing a strong advisory to employees. The core of the conflict lies in the bank management’s decision to implement a new rotation transfer system and extend the transfer area from station to district, which the Joint Forum claims is both unlawful and prejudicial to the affected employees.





Image - JFUBU’s letter

The circular states that the dispute began after the bank management implemented a new rotation transfer policy and expanded the transfer area from station to district. This change, according to the Joint Forum, replaced an earlier agreed policy and affected employee provisions that are now under legal review.

The matter has been referred to the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT)-cum-Labour Court, Kolkata, for adjudication after questions were raised about the process of signing the new transfer policy with a different negotiating committee. The Ministry of Labour & Employment intervened and referred the issue for legal settlement to ensure compliance with labour laws.

Under Section 33 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, employers are required to maintain the status quo on service conditions once a dispute has been referred to court. The circular notes that despite this legal requirement, rotation transfer orders continued to be issued in 2024 and 2025. The CGIT-cum-Labour Court reportedly passed an ex-parte order supporting the maintenance of status quo when the management did not attend consecutive hearings.

Further reference is made to a meeting held on 21 June 2025, where the management decided to extend the completion date for rotation transfers from 30 June to 31 October. The Joint Forum termed this change an amendment made while the case was still pending in court.

The advisory section of the circular guides employees to accept any transfer order under protest by writing “Received under protest” while signing the acknowledgement and then submitting a written representation. This step, according to the forum, ensures that employees record their objection while maintaining organisational discipline.

The Joint Forum appealed to employees to remain united, alert, and cooperative in safeguarding their rights and service conditions. It also reiterated that protecting fairness in the transfer process is essential to preserving harmony within the organisation.