IMPHAL, July 8: Millions of bank workers across India are preparing to participate in a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, July 9, in protest against the Central government’s recent labour reforms, pro-corporate policies, and privatisation of public sector institutions.
The strike has been called by a forum of 10 central trade unions, including AITUC, INTUC, CITU, TUCC, HMS, AIUTUC, SEWA, and others. These unions represent workers from various sectors, such as banking, insurance, coal mining, postal services, construction, and regional transport, and are backed by industrial federations and joint farmers’ platforms.
In Manipur, the All Manipur Bank Employees’ Association (AMBEA) has confirmed its participation in the strike, which is expected to affect banking services across the state. The AMBEA joined the national call to protest against the four contentious labour codes related to wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety.
In Kolkata, members of the central trade unions staged a central rally amid heavy rain on Monday, July 7, signalling the seriousness of the strike preparations. Trade unions across the country have been mobilising workers in both the formal and informal/unorganised sectors to join the strike.
Public sector banks like Bank of Baroda, in a filing to the stock exchange, have cautioned that their operations may be severely disrupted on Wednesday due to participation by their employees.
General Secretaries of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) have already communicated their plans to strike to the Indian Banks Association (IBA).
The trade unions have also called for:
- Filling up vacant sanctioned posts
- Creating more employment opportunities
- Increasing MNREGA workdays and wage increments
- Rolling back pro-corporate and privatisation measures
The strike was originally planned for May but was postponed due to national events. A charter of 17 demands had earlier been submitted to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the union forum confirmed.
