Summary of this article
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) has called a nationwide strike on May 25–26, 2026, over 16 long-pending demands.
If dates coincide with a holiday, the strike may shift to May 27.
The union alleges anti-employee policies, outsourcing of permanent jobs, safety lapses due to lack of armed guards, pay disparity, and denial of NPS pension fund manager choice to employees.
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) is set to go on a two-day nationwide strike on May 25 and 26, 2026, to escalate long-pending demands. Citing administrative neglect and a systematic disregard for the workforce, the federation, through its circular issued on May 2, 2026, highlights that the bank management is bringing in anti-employee policies, and the institution’s backbone is being dismantled through such policies. According to the notification, if either of the scheduled dates for the strike falls on a holiday, then the strike will be observed on May 27.
Several other bank employee and pensioner unions have extended solidarity for the two-day strike. These include National Confederation of Bank of India Staff Unions, Federation Of National Postal Organisations (FNPO), Ceylon Bank Employees' Union, Federation of SBI Pensioners' Associations, Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank Employees' Federation, All India Bank of Baroda Employees' Federation, All India PNB Staff Federation, Indian National Bank Employees’ Federation, All India Union Bank Staff Federation, All India Railwaymen's Federation, among others.
The core of the agitation is the dispute over what the union describes as a dangerous shift to the outsourcing of permanent jobs. The federation alleges that stable, dignified employment is being replaced by precarious engagements. It not only denies workers’ security but also puts customer data at risk due to the lack of accountability among outsourced staff.
The AISBISF highlights a nearly three-decade-long freeze on recruiting messengers. The freeze has vanished an entire cadre while reducing opportunities for underprivileged sections of the society, it claims.
Physical Safety
It raises the physical safety concerns of the employees. Referring to a brazen daytime robbery at a Surat branch, where armed robbers threatened bank staff and looted cash, the federation underscores the direct consequence of the management's failure to recruit Armed Guards. It argues that the bank is exposing its employees, including women and the public, to grave danger by not recruiting guards and leaving branches unprotected.
Pay Parity
Further demands include pay parity, observing the growing unrest among employees due to financial inequities. The federation noted that while the 12th Bipartite Settlement mandated a 17 per cent increase for all across the industry, SBI management granted additional ‘Special Pay’ only to the officers. This disparity pushed the effective increase for officials to nearly 22 per cent, whereas for workmen it remained capped at 17 per cent.
NPS Pension Fund Manager
The federation also highlighted that over 1.1 lakh employees and officers under the National Pension System (NPS) are being denied the option to change their Pension Fund Manager. While other banks offer the option to select the pension fund manager, SBI doesn’t allow it, causing erosion of employees’ retirement savings due to remaining invested in underperforming funds.
The AISBISF has issued a charter of demands, which includes the following 16 points:
Charter Of Demands
1. Recruitment of messengers
2. Recruitment of armed guards
3. Change of pension fund manager option for NPS employees
4. Inter-circle transfers for employees who joined from 2019 onwards
5. Stop outsourcing of permanent jobs
6. Recruitment of adequate staff
7. Parity issue in State Bank of India
8. Review of career progression scheme
9. Notional 8th stagnation increment to 10th bipartite retirees
10. Physician consultation charges
11. Improvement in medical reimbursement scheme
12. Adding all pay components to the pension of 7th bps retirees since retirement
13. Resolve human resource management system (HRMS) issues
14. Appointment of workmen employee director
15. Appointment of PF trustee nominee
16. Stop mis-selling in the name of cross-selling
What are the specific dates of the SBI nationwide strike?
The strike is officially scheduled for May 25 and 26, 2026. If either of these dates falls on a holiday, the federation has declared that the strike will be observed on May 27, 2026.
Why is the recruitment of armed guards a part of the federation’s demand charter?
The federation stresses recruiting armed guards to ensure the physical security of bank employees and the public visiting the branches. Citing a recent incident where armed robbers entered an SBI branch in Surat and looted cash in broad daylight, the federation highlights that the lack of guards exposes employees and the public to serious danger and demands the recruitment of guards.
Do bank employees receive dearness allowance (DA)?
Yes, public sector bank (PSB) employees receive DA, which is revised on a quarterly basis. Recently, the Indian Bank’s Association (IBA) approved an increase in DA from 25 per cent to 25.70 per cent for the May-July 2026 quarter.
