Over 80,000 officers in SBI and seven associate banks would strike work on August 18 to protest the move to merge State Bank of Sourashtra with SBI.
The protest call was given by the All India State Bank Officers' Federation, the sole organisation of SBI and associate banks.
The decision to strike work was taken by a meeting of the principal office-bearers of all circle associations and associate ban officers association held in Patna on July 31, K Rajeevan, general secretary of SBI Officeres association ( Kerala Circle) said in a press release here.
The government and the SBI management had earlier assured that any decision on the merger would be taken after discussions with the unions.
However, the management was now going ahead with the merger plan flouting the assurances given to the unions, the Federation said.
The associate banks were established with the specific purpose of providing credit facilities to the interior parts of erstwehile princely states.
The merger was bound to affect the existing branch network in rural areas, when the need was to open more branches in backward areas, the release added.