Hyderabad: The CPI(M) Telangana State Committee extended support to the bank employees’ strike scheduled from September 28 to 30. The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) called the three-day nationwide strike over several service-related demands.
The unions are seeking implementation of a five-day working week and changes to the Performance Linked Incentive scheme. They are also seeking resolution of issues linked to the 12th Bipartite Wage Settlement.
In a statement, CPI(M) Telangana State Secretary John Wesley urged the Centre to address the concerns raised by bank employees and officers. He also appealed to workers across Telangana to support the three-day strike.
Wesley alleged that the Centre was creating divisions among employees by not ratifying agreements reached in 2023. He also alleged that the government had unilaterally changed incentive structures linked to bank performance.
According to the CPI(M), such steps undermine long-standing bilateral agreements between bank employees and management. The party also criticised what it described as moves towards privatisation of public sector banks.
The UFBU’s strike programme is part of a wider industrial action over five-day banking, the revised PLI framework and other pending issues. The unions have also announced an indefinite strike from October 26 if their demands remain unresolved.
Bank employees’ strike and CPI(M) concerns
Meanwhile, Wesley said the government was weakening agreements that had governed relations between bank employees and management. He argued that changes to service conditions should follow bilateral negotiations.
The CPI(M) also alleged that public sector bank consolidation had reduced the number of banks from 28 to 12. It further alleged that the government was seeking to bring Regional Rural Banks under corporate interests.
The party said such measures could affect job security for bank employees. It called on workers and the public to oppose what it described as the Centre’s policies towards the banking sector.
The Finance Ministry has separately urged banks to minimise disruption during the September 28-30 strike. The ministry has also advised public sector and regional rural banks to maintain essential services and adequate ATM availability.
The CPI(M) maintained that the concerns raised by bank employees required immediate attention. It urged the working class in Telangana to extend support to the three-day action.