Banks in Meghalaya to be affected by two days All India Bank Strikes

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 17, 2025

Along with the rest of the nation, the Meghalaya State Unit of the Union Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) will participate in the two days long strike from the midnight of March 23rd to 25th against the non-fulfillment of their long pending demands by the authorities concerned.

The functioning of all public sector banks such as Central Bank of India, State Bank of India, Canara Bank of India, Punjab National Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India amongst others will be affected during the two days All India Bank Strike.

The United Forum Bank of India, which is a conglomeration of nine major bank unions in the country announced the strike after failing to reach an agreement with the Indian Banks Association (IBA).

Informing media persons regarding the decision of the Meghalaya State Unit to participate in the Bank Strike, SBIOA Shillong Dy General Secretary Devadeep Dasgupta said that their demands include adequate recruitment, regularization of temporary staff, and a five-day workweek in banks.

He also informed that the UFBU called for the withdrawal of recent government directives on performance reviews and PLI, which he said threaten job security, create divisions, and violate agreements.

Dasgupta urged the government to amend the Gratuity Act to raise the ceiling to Rs 25 lakh and provide income tax exemptions, as well as to maintain at least 51% equity in IDBI Bank. He also criticized the micro-management of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) by the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

Dasgupta emphasized that banks need sufficient staff to meet public demand, citing a shortage due to inadequate recruitment over the past decade. He also pointed out that while PSBs implement government schemes, they lack the necessary staff. Official figures show a significant reduction in staffing at PSBs, with 1,51,835 fewer clerks and 59,280 fewer sub-staff over the past 11 years. In contrast, private sector banks have seen a major increase in staff.