Bengaluru, June 6 – In a press conference held at the Press Club of Bengaluru, C. Ramachari, a long-serving employee of Kotak Mahindra Bank and a member of the bank’s staff union for the past 28 years, alleged that he was unfairly expelled from the union after raising concerns about the rights and welfare of lower-level and part-time employees.
Ramachari stated that during the divisional meeting held in Hubballi last year, he and several colleagues voiced issues regarding the reduction in promotion quotas for sub-staff and the lack of clarity surrounding the promotion process for part-time employees. Despite submitting formal representations to the union leadership — including written appeals dated April 24, 2024, and September 22, 2024 — he claimed that the union’s General Secretary failed to offer any concrete response.
“Rather than addressing our concerns, I was issued a notice accusing me of anti-union activities, solely for discussing these matters with fellow members,” Ramachari said. He noted that approximately 35 to 40 union members had signed letters raising similar issues, but action was selectively taken against him alone.
He further criticized the unilateral nature of his expulsion, claiming there was no transparent or fair inquiry process. Despite replying to the notice, no review was conducted before revoking his membership, he alleged.
Ramachari also raised concerns over language discrimination. “I requested that the notice be issued in Kannada, as I have limited knowledge of English, but my plea was ignored,” he said, pointing out that although the union’s headquarters is based in Bengaluru, the use of Kannada is disregarded by senior office-bearers.
Expressing disappointment over the current leadership, Ramachari alleged that the General Secretary receives a substantial monthly honorarium from the union’s funds — approximately ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 — yet remains indifferent to the grievances of rank-and-file employees.
“We are not against the union. We are fighting for transparency, fairness, and justice. The union must protect workers’ rights, not silence them,” he said, urging fellow employees to support ethical leadership in the upcoming union elections scheduled for December 11 in Hyderabad.
Ramachari concluded by demanding that his membership be reinstated and that the entire incident be reviewed impartially. He reiterated that he and his supporters would continue their peaceful struggle to ensure the union remains a true voice for all employees.
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