Representation lodged over conduct of deputy zonal head; union seeks intervention
DURGAPUR: The Association of Officers of UCO Bank (AOUCB), affiliated with the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), has formally complained to the Zonal Manager of UCO Bank’s Durgapur Zone alleging a pattern of intimidation, excessive working hours and infringement of privacy by the office’s Deputy Zonal Head.
The representation, dated 15 September 2026 and signed by AOUCB General Secretary Deep Prakash Rawat, names multiple strands of concern affecting officers and staff at the Zonal Office, Retail Loan Hub, SME Hub and various branches under the Durgapur jurisdiction.
- Work-to-Rule agitation: The note states the Deputy Zonal Head is attempting to prevent officers from participating in the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)’s ongoing Work to Rule campaign linked to demands on Performance Linked Incentives (PLI) and a five-day banking week.
- Extended review meetings: Meetings are said to be convened from about 5:30 PM and often continue beyond 7:00 PM, with staff required to submit reports before leaving the office, effectively extending duty hours.
- Allegations of harassment: The representation refers to rough telephone conversations, authoritative instructions, threats of departmental action and issuance of explanation letters without complete scrutiny of circumstances.
- Privacy concerns: AOUCB cites an incident in which the Deputy Zonal Head allegedly visited an officer’s residence in the Durgapur Staff Quarters without prior notice and inspected parts of the house while the officer was absent.
- Late attendance cases: The letter highlights at least two instances where officers reached work late due to emergencies and faced punitive responses, according to the association.
The representation urges the Zonal Manager to look into the matters and take steps to ensure a workplace environment free from intimidation and undue pressure. It requests corrective action on practices that it says amount to misuse of supervisory powers and intrusion into personal privacy.
"Officers and staff are facing intimidation, mental pressure and embarrassment," the AOUCB representation said.
Local context and broader implications
Bank branches in Durgapur serve a broad cross-section of the region’s workforce — from industrial employees in the Steel City to small-business owners and residents of new housing complexes such as IQ City and Aquapolis. Labour-relations issues inside a major public-sector bank zonal office can therefore ripple into public confidence and staff morale at branch level.
Work-to-Rule actions by unions, including UFBU, have been a recurring feature in the banking sector nationally as staff press demands over incentives and work arrangements. The AOUCB statement links the alleged managerial conduct to an effort to curb staff participation in that campaign.
| Item | Details from AOUCB representation |
|---|---|
| Date of representation | 15 September 2026 |
| Signatory | Deep Prakash Rawat, AOUCB General Secretary |
| Alleged issues | Intimidation, extended hours, privacy breach, misuse of mentor system |
The representation does not record any reply from the Zonal Manager. UCO Bank’s Durgapur office issued an administrative order on other matters in September, including deployment for promotional activities, but it is not clear from the representation whether the zonal management has responded to the AOUCB’s specific charges.
Labour representatives and banking observers say such complaints often prompt internal inquiries; outcomes range from formal counselling to disciplinary proceedings or procedural changes, depending on findings. For officers at Durgapur, however, the immediate demand is clear: managerial intervention to restore normal working conditions and address alleged violations of privacy and fair procedure.
As Durgapur’s banking network continues to play a role in the region’s economic life, any erosion of staff confidence in local management could have operational consequences. The AOUCB’s representation formally places the matter on record and asks the Zonal Manager to act, potentially leading to an internal probe or remedial directives within the zone.
Efforts to obtain comment from UCO Bank’s zonal administration in Durgapur were not recorded in the representation made available to the association.
