New Delhi: Employees of State Bank of India (SBI) have announced a two-day nationwide strike on May 25–26, 2026, raising concerns over staffing shortages, pension issues, outsourcing, and pay parity. The protest, led by the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF), marks an escalation of long-standing grievances within the country’s largest public sector lender.
The union has stated that workmen-category employees will stay away from duties on the scheduled dates. If either day coincides with a holiday, the strike will be shifted to May 27. The notice has been issued under provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and has been formally communicated to the SBI chairman.
16-point charter of demands
At the centre of the agitation is a detailed charter of 16 demands that the union claims have remained unresolved. These include recruitment gaps, pension-related concerns, inadequate staffing, and resistance to outsourcing permanent roles.
The federation has alleged that employee rights are being undermined and long-standing agreements are not being implemented effectively. It has also raised concerns over career progression policies and operational challenges linked to human resource management systems.
Staffing shortages and hiring concerns
One of the key issues highlighted by the union is the shortage of staff across various branches. The federation has demanded immediate recruitment, particularly for roles such as messengers and armed guards.
The union pointed out that there has been a near three-decade halt in messenger recruitment, which it claims has eliminated entry-level opportunities for economically weaker sections. It argued that this trend goes against the broader social objectives of public sector banks.
Security concerns have also been flagged. Referring to recent incidents such as a bank robbery in Surat, the union emphasised the need for adequate security personnel at branches.
Opposition to outsourcing
AISBISF has also criticised what it describes as a shift towards outsourcing, alleging that stable, long-term roles are increasingly being replaced by contractual arrangements.
The union believes this trend not only affects job security but also impacts service quality and employee morale. It has called for a halt to outsourcing of permanent roles and urged the management to strengthen internal staffing.
Pension and pay parity issues
Another major point of contention is the pension system under the National Pension System (NPS). Employees have raised objections to restrictions on changing pension fund managers, claiming that SBI staff are at a disadvantage compared to employees of other public sector banks.
The union has also highlighted disparities in wage revisions. While a 17 per cent hike was agreed upon for both workmen and supervisory staff across the industry, it claims that officers at SBI have effectively received higher benefits due to additional components, leading to pay parity concerns.
Transfer policies and HR issues
Employees have also expressed dissatisfaction with transfer policies, particularly the lack of inter-circle transfers for those recruited after 2019. The union said this has caused difficulties for employees seeking relocation for personal or professional reasons.
Additionally, issues related to the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) have been cited as a source of operational inefficiencies and employee dissatisfaction.
Nationwide mobilisation planned
Ahead of the strike, the federation has planned a series of coordinated actions across the country, including demonstrations, sit-ins, and awareness campaigns. Social media outreach and press briefings are also part of the mobilisation strategy.
The union plans to submit memoranda to key policymakers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging intervention in resolving the issues.
Conclusion
The proposed strike by SBI employees reflects growing discontent over workplace conditions and policy decisions within the bank. As one of India’s largest financial institutions, any disruption in SBI operations could impact customers nationwide. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether dialogue between the union and management can avert the strike or lead to a resolution of the long-pending demands.