SBI officers strike to hit bank services for most of next week

A two-day strike called by the State Bank Officers' Federation (AISBOF) on 8th and 9th could disrupt services at the State bank of India nationwide for most of next week as 7th and 10th November happens to be holidays.

SBI, the country's largest bank in terms of turnover, has a network of 13,500 branches serving 136 million customers across the country and a nationwide strike could almost paralyse banking operations.

SBI has informed the general public in notices published in newspapers that they may have to put up with no branch services for four days beginning Monday, as talks between the management and officers' union have failed.

The officers' association has called the strike over pay and some other demands and it is likely that officers of SBI's associate banks may also join the strike.

Meanwhile, G A Nadaf, general secretary of the All India State Bank Officers Federation (AISBOF), said the bank has not favourably responded to reconciliation efforts by the Central Labour Commissioner, forcing the union to go ahead with the strike on 8 and 9 November.

However, Pratip Chaudhuri, chairman of SBI, said the regional labour commissioner (Mumbai) has directed the officers union not to proceed with a strike and instead attend a conciliation meeting. He also warned the officers of legal action if the union pursues the strike call.

Banks are closed on Monday due to Id ul Zuha and on Thursday for Guru Nanak Jayanti. This leaves the week with only one and a half day's (banks work for half the day on Saturday) services next week.