When the largest trade union in the country’s banking sector, the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), organizes a conference this October in Hyderabad exclusively for young employees who have worked with state-run banks for less than five years, it will be a first in the 68-year history of the body. The three-day meet is being “organized specifically to raise awareness among young employees about the need to stay organized and united,” said AIBEA general secretary C. H. Venkatachalam. “They should know why unions are important to ensure a fair play in organizations.” He admitted that not many young people are interested in participating in union activities. “There is a definite gap between the unions and the employees who have joined in the last four to five years.” At present, there are about 11 employee unions in India’s banking industry with close to 900,000 members.