State Bank of India (SBI) employees may go on a two-day strike on 25th and 26th May. All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) has announced this nationwide strike to fulfill its 16 demands. This strike has been called to protect the rights of employees, ensure good working conditions and protect the interests of customers.
16 main demands of SBI employees:
**New Recruitment of Messenger:** Immediate and permanent recruitment should be made to fill the vacant Class IV (Messenger) posts in the Bank.
**Recruitment of Armed Guards:** Adequate number of armed guards should be recruited to ensure the security of the Bank and to meet the needs of its branches.
**NPS Option:** Employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) should have the freedom to choose their own “Pension Fund Manager”.
**Inter-Circle Transfer (ICT):** Employees recruited after 2019 should be given the opportunity to request transfer to another circle.
**Prohibition on Outsourcing:** The practice of outsourcing works of permanent nature to external agencies should be stopped immediately.
**Recruitment of Adequate Staff:** In view of the increased work load in all branches, adequate number of staff should be recruited.
**Issue of equality:** Disparities in pay and other benefits among employees in the State Bank system should be eliminated.
**Amendment to Career Progression Scheme:** Existing policies related to promotion and professional development of employees should be amended.
**Benefits for retired employees:** Employees retired under the 10th bilateral agreement should get the benefit of “8th Stability Increment”. **Medical Consultation Expenses:** Medical consultation rates should be reviewed and adjusted with effect from July 15, 2024.
**Health Scheme Reforms:** The medical reimbursement system should be made more comprehensive and simple.
** **Inclusion of all allowances in retirement benefits:** All components of pay should be included in the calculation of retirement benefits for employees retiring under the 7th Bilateral Agreement. **Resolution of HRMS Issues:** Technical glitches affecting the HR Software (HRMS) of the Bank should be resolved permanently. **Appointment of Employee-Representative Director:** The old tradition of appointing directors from the “clerical cadre” to the Board of Directors of the Bank should be revived.
**Appointment of Trustee for Provident Fund:** An employee representative should be appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Provident Fund (PF).
**Prohibition on mis-selling:** The wrong practice of selling unsuitable products to customers by pressurizing employees under the guise of “cross-selling” (ie, selling insurance, investment funds etc.) should be stopped.
What will be the effect of the strike?
Since the strike involves “clerical cadre” (clerks and other employees), services like check clearing, teller services and savings passbook updates may be disrupted.
SBI services may remain closed for 5 consecutive days
Due to this two-day strike, SBI branches may remain closed for five consecutive days. Banks will remain closed on May 23, as it is the fourth Saturday of the month, and also on May 24, as it is a Sunday. The two-day strike is scheduled for May 25 and 26. Additionally, on May 27, banks will remain closed in most parts of the country due to Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid)/Eid-uz-Zuha.
