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Thousands of Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank Employees Erupt in Protest Against Unresolved 12th BPS and PLI Benefits
An employee participating in the protest told Kanal, “The August 8 demonstration saw overwhelming participation, with over 2,000 employees abandoning their duties. Out of UBGB’s 1,028 branches, only 317 remained operational, primarily because staff on probation are not permitted to join protests officially. This significant turnout highlights the deep-seated dissatisfaction among the employees with the bank’s management.”
Author: Saurav Kumar
Published: August 9, 2024
In a significant show of discontent, thousands of employees of the Uttar Bihar Gramin Bank (UBGB) launched a protest at the bank’s Muzaffarpur head office on August 8, 2024. The protest was organised under the banner of the Joint Forum of UBGB Unions (JFUGBU). Employees abandoned their work and raised slogans against the bank's management, accusing them of ignoring the long-standing demands of the workforce.
Massive Turnout at the Protest
An employee participating in the protest told Kanal, “The August 8 demonstration saw overwhelming participation, with over 2,000 employees abandoning their duties. Out of UBGB’s 1,028 branches, only 317 remained operational, primarily because staff on probation are not permitted to join protests officially. This significant turnout highlights the deep-seated dissatisfaction among the employees with the bank's management.”
Management’s Prolonged Negligence
For several months, UBGB employees have voiced their concerns over what they describe as the prolonged negligence of the bank’s management. Despite multiple reminders and formal requests, the management has failed to address the pressing issues affecting its workforce.
Following the Department of Financial Services (DFS) declaration on July 8, 2024, regarding the implementation of salary revisions according to the 12th Bipartite Settlement (BPS), the unions in UBGB, on July 20, urged the management to extend benefits such as the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) and wage upgrades in line with the 12th BPS. However, these appeals have remained unheeded.
In response to the management’s silence, the JFUGBU initiated a series of protests that included:
- A black badge protest by employees along with officially quitting WhatsApp groups on July 26.
- Peaceful protest by Joint Forums unions at the head office on July 29.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, UBGB employees find themselves in a challenging situation. The bank reported a record operating profit of Rs. 463.47 crore for the financial year 2023-24 and a net profit of Rs. 90 crore. The bank’s Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) is 10.32%, surpassing the mandatory requirement.
The ongoing JFUGBU-led protests at UBGB underline the critical issues facing employees, as unresolved concerns continue to impact their well-being and future prospects.