Bank Employees Joined Nationwide General Strike

Ludhiana, July 9, 2025: Coinciding with the Nationwide General Strike called by the Central Trade Unions, with more than 25 crores workers participating in it. Supplementing the struggle, and responding to the joint call of All India Bank Employees Association, All India Bank Officers Association and Bank Employees Federation of India (AIBEA, AIBOA, BEFI), a massive rally was organized by Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation (PBEF) Ludhiana in front of Canara Bank Bharat Nagar Chowk Ludhiana. 

The rally was addressed by Com. P R Mehta, Vice President AIBEA and General Secretary Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation, Com. D. P Maur, General Secretary Joint Trade Union Council Ludhiana, Dr Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, Senior Trade Union Leader, Com. Naresh Gaur Secretary PBEF, Com. Pawan Thakur, President Punjab Bank Employees’ Federation PBEF, Ludhiana, Com. Rajesh Verma, Com. Jarnail Singh, Com. Narkesar Rai, Com. Parveen Aggarwal, Com. Yuvraj Maria, Com. Gurmeet Singh from AIBOA and other top leaders of Punjab Bank Employees Federation attended and addressed the meeting. 

While addressing the rally Com. P R Mehta said, we are concerned that the continued economic policies of the Government is resulting in accumulation of huge wealth in the hands of the big Corporates and industrialists in our country and the same time, there is deprivation and marginalization of the poor pushing more and more common masses below the poverty line. Though the claims are that India is growing fast, in effect we find that only the rich individuals are growing and the poor are suffering. More and more concessions are given to the Corporates and more and more tax burden is heaped on the common people. 

It is a matter of major concern that in a country like India where large number of the population is young, the unemployment is swelling and educated youth do not get jobs. Instead creating more and more jobs, the Government policies are resulting in lesser workforce. Allocation for job generation has taken a nose-dive.

Com D P Maur added, inflation is uncontrolled and hence the prices of all essential commodities of daily life necessities making life of the people miserable. GST on each and every item consumed by the poor is adding to unbearable burden.
To cope up with this attack on the life and livelihood of people, the worker’s have to demand some improvement in their wages. But even the minimum wage is not being guaranteed. Existing jobs are being reduced. Permanente vacancies are filled up by contract employees with very less wage. Fixed Term Employment has become Government’s policy.

Dr Aulakh mentioned, agriculture is the main avocation in our country. But the contribution of agriculture sector to total GDP has drastically come down indicating the deep crisis in this vital sector. Farmers are in distress. They want minimum support price for their produce. But Government was the Corporates to control the produce for hoarding and profiteering.

But we all know that working class is the real wealth creator. Unfortunately, they do not enjoy any share in this prosperity. 5% of the population at the top control 70% of the wealth and 50% of the people at the bottom are left with only 3% of the wealth. The inequality is widening, aggressively, menacingly and nakedly. All this is aided by the Government policies.

Com Naresh Gaur highlighted, Public Sector in our country is at the core of our country’s growth and development. Now public sector has become the target for disinvestment, privatisation and monetization. Even public sector banks and insurance companies which deal with huge public savings are now sought to be privatised. Public Sector Banks deal with Rs. 140 lac crores of people’s Deposits. Can we afford to hand over this public savings to private Corporates and capitalists.

When workers are questioning and opposing these policies, the trade unions have been the target now. Labour Codes are brought in to replace existing labour laws won by the working class through years of struggles and sacrifices. Labour Reforms are meant to aid the employers and deprive the working class of their basic labour rights.
In the Financial sector, bank employees and insurance employees – AIBEA, AIIEA, GIEAAIA, AIBOA, AILICEF and BEFI are on strike. Employees of public sector banks, some private sector and foreign banks, Co-op. Bank employees, Regional Rural Bank Employees, LIC and GIC employees are also participating in the strike.