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Union Bank To Face Two Nationwide Strikes on Consecutive Working Days in September 2024, Leading to Four Days of Major Disruptions
Union Bank operations will be disrupted for four consecutive days as two major unions call for a strike on 27 September, followed by the weekend holidays and another strike on 30 September, causing service disruptions nationwide.
Author: Abhivad
Published: September 10, 2024
The All India Union Bank Employees' Association (AIUBEA) and the All India Union Bank Officers’ Federation (AIUBOF) have jointly called for a nationwide strike on 27 September 2024, following failed negotiations with bank management over long-standing demands. The strike, which will involve a significant portion of Union Bank’s workforce, is expected to severely disrupt banking services across the country. The strike coincides with the preceding weekend and is followed by a separate strike on 30 September by the Joint Forum of Union Bank Unions. Union Bank operations are set to be affected for four consecutive days, raising further concerns about service disruptions nationwide.
(The joint circular from AIUBEA & AIUBOF declaring strike on 27 September.)
Unions’ Demands and Frustrations
The call for the strike follows unresolved issues that the unions have been raising for an extended period. The core issues include management’s failure to address manpower shortages, disregard for long-established industrial relations practices, and concerns over the implementation of new business models without trial runs.
According to circulars released by AIUBEA and AIUBOF, one of the key complaints is the management’s unilateral decision-making, particularly concerning human resources and operational policies. Both unions claim that the bank management has ignored their suggestions and violated long-standing agreements, resulting in a toxic work environment.
The unions further allege that the bank's management has been engaging consultants to implement changes, without considering the input of employees. This has led to dissatisfaction among staff, particularly regarding job roles that unions argue do not offer any substantial value. Another significant concern is the increasing incidents of fraud, which the unions attribute to poor staff management and a lack of proper monitoring due to insufficient manpower.
Staff Shortage and Overwork
A critical issue highlighted by the unions is the acute staff shortage across branches, regional, and zonal offices. They claim that instead of addressing these manpower shortages, the management has exacerbated the situation by creating non-essential roles that pull officers away from core responsibilities. This has resulted in deteriorating customer service and overburdened employees.
The unions have also expressed frustration over the management’s failure to honor agreements related to the transfer policy and specialist officer roles. AIUBEA and AIUBOF argue that the management has broken the trust of its staff by not adhering to the agreed-upon procedures, leading to a growing sense of dissatisfaction among staff.
Upcoming Strike by Joint Forum of Other Unions
In addition to the 27 September strike, a joint forum of several other Union Bank unions has scheduled another strike for 30 September 2024. Their primary demand is also related to the bank's failure to recruit adequate staff, resulting in further workforce shortages. Both strikes, on 27 September (Friday) and 30 September (Monday), are expected to severely disrupt Union Bank’s operations nationwide, as the intervening days are banking holidays.
(The circular by Joint Forum of Union Bank Unions renewing their call for strike on 30 September 2024.)
With a significant portion of the bank’s workforce participating, operations such as customer service, loan processing, and transaction facilitation are likely to be impacted. Customers are advised to complete their essential banking transactions before the strike dates to avoid inconvenience.
The two consecutive strikes by Union Bank’s officers and employees on working days reflect deep-rooted frustrations over unresolved demands and deteriorating working conditions. Further unrest may follow if the issues remain unaddressed.