SBI staff threaten nationwide strike from May 25 over recruitment issues

Employees of the State Bank of India SBI under the banner of the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation AISBISF have threatened to launch a twoday nationwide strike beginning May 25 over a series of demands including the recruitment of adequate staff reported ANIpictwittercom1B6bJTc9Comdash State Bank of India TheOfficialSBI May 22 2026Banking operations may face prolonged disruptionIf the strike goes ahead SBIrsquos banking operations across the country could face disruption for nearly five consecutive days as the fourth Saturday and Sunday fall immediately before the proposed strike datesAdditionally several states are expected to observe a public holiday on May 27 on account of Eid alAdha Bakrid the day after the strike concludesKey demands raised by employeesIn a statement AISBISF said its demands include the recruitment of sufficient employees appointment of messengers and armed guards and allowing National Pension System NPS employees the option to change their Pension Fund ManagerThe union has also opposed the outsourcing of permanent jobs alleging that it poses serious risks related to data leaks misuse fraud and identity theftldquoOutsourcing permanent jobs endangers customer trust and exposes the bank to severe reputational and legal consequencesrdquo the federation stated according to ANIDemand for employee representation on boardAnother major demand raised by the union is the appointment of a Workmenrsquos Employee Director on SBIrsquos boardThe federation alleged that despite provisions requiring the appointment from a panel submitted by the representative union employeesrsquo democratic and statutory rights have been repeatedly ignoredldquoThis continued inaction reflects a deliberate denial of workmenrsquos representation at the highest level of decisionmaking and is wholly unacceptablerdquo the statement added the news agency reportedConciliation meeting scheduledMeanwhile the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner is scheduled to hold a conciliation meeting on May 23 with representatives of the union and the bankrsquos management in an effort to resolve the dispute and avert the strikeAIOCD explains why chemists across India went on strikeIt was shutters down across the country on Wednesday as chemists and druggists observed a nationwide oneday token strike called by the All India Organisation of Chemists amp Druggists AIOCDThe organisation said the protest was against the ldquoillegal and uncontrolled online sale of medicines sale of medicines without valid prescriptions and predatory deep discounting practices by online medicine platformsrdquoAIOCD secretary speaks on strike impactResponding to questions on the impact of the strike AIOCD secretary Rajiv Singhal said more than 12 lakh chemists across India had supported the protestldquoJust like Rome was not built in a day the pharmaceutical industry its evolution and related changes cannot happen overnight We are happy because this strike action was highlighted by the media It brought awareness among the public regarding the misuse of epharmacy platformsrdquo he saidldquoIt also brought focus to our concerns and legitimate grievances which is why we term it a success Now it is up to the authorities to take actionrdquo he addedWith ANI inputs