SHILLONG: Employees of various banks under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), Meghalaya State Unit, staged a protest on January 27, in front of the State Bank of India (SBI) Main Branch in Shillong, pressing for the fulfilment of their long-pending demands.
As part of the agitation, banks affiliated with the UFBU remained closed for the day, causing inconvenience to customers across the state. The protest was aimed at urging the government to address several key issues affecting bank employees, most notably the demand for the introduction of a five-day work week.
Addressing the media, UFBU Convenor Wandaplang Mawroh said the union has been consistently demanding holidays on all Saturdays, instead of the existing system that allows holidays only on the second and fourth Saturdays. He said multiple proposals had been submitted over the years seeking approval of these demands, but continued delays had compelled bank employees to resort to protest.
While acknowledging the inconvenience caused to the public, Mawroh clarified that the agitation was not directed against customers. He said the protest was being carried out to safeguard the legitimate rights and welfare of bank employees.
Mawroh also highlighted the acute shortage of staff in banks, stating that the number of employees has been steadily declining over the years, adding to the workload and stress on existing staff. He noted that despite repeated representations, the demand for a five-day work week has not yet been accepted.
The UFBU Convenor said the agitation is expected to trigger discussions between the government and union leaders, after which the public would be informed about the outcome. He added that although the government has appealed to the union to call off the protest, no concrete assurance has been received so far. The union, he said, remains firm on continuing the agitation until a clear commitment is given on their demands.
