Agartala Jan 18: Voicing for 10-point demands, Tripura Gramin Bank employees under the banner of Joint Development Forum, comprising four organizations, Tripura Gramin Bank Employees’ Association (TGBEA), Tripura Gramin Bank Employees’ Federation (TGBEF), Tripura Gramin Bank Officers’ Association (TGBOA) and Tripura Gramin Bank Officers’ Union (TGBOU), staged a protest demonstration in front of Gramin Bank’s Head Office in the state capital on Saturday.

Underscoring the importance of the demands, a large number of bank employees took part in the protest.

Briefing the demands while talking to the reporters, one of the officials said, “For a long time we have been fighting for these demands in the interest of the employees and customers. But the management is completely silent which has compelled us to take to the streets”.

The 10-point demands raised include; “Modification of the transfer policy with proper consultation with the recognized trade unions, giving due weightage to our proposed suggestions, Development of bank’s infrastructure, providing greater transparency and eliminating favouritism, Avoiding issuances of unnecessary show cause or DO letters to employees, Providing hassle-free banking services for customers, including loans and other banking services, Manpower calculation should align with SK Mitra recommendations and be communicated to the recognized unions, Posting of Principal Office bearers of recognized trade unions at the TGB Head Office to create a bridge between employees/Office and employers, ensuring faster resolution of employee-Officer-related issues, Repatriation of all deputed officers of the sponsor bank from Tripura Gramin Bank to provide growth and promotional opportunities for the employees of TGB, Proper implementation of minimum wages for DRWS/Sanitation workers along with all statutory benefits life EPF, ESI, medical, leave etc. Full implementation of the 9^th joint note/12^th Bipartite Settlement along with all due benefits/arrears and All allowances/benefits should be at par with those of the Sponsor Bank”.

Atanu Dhar general secretary Tripura Gramin Bank Officers Union said, “There are many banks in rural areas of the state that lack essential facilities like Toilets. Women employees working at those banks find it extremely difficult to spend such long office hours in those branches. But the management is well playing the role of a silent spectator”.

He further added that if the demands are met at the earliest, the employees will continue their agitation including indefinite strike from March 15, 2025.

“Today we are staging a protest, we will go for complete shut down of bank services on January 27, then again 2-days strike on February 24-25 and indefinite strike from March 15, if the management fails to comply with our demands”, said Dhar.