Bank Employees’ Unions announce Three-Day strike from Sept 28, indefinite stir from Oct 26

JAMMU: Banking operations across the country are likely to be affected as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), representing seven bank employees’ and officers’ unions, announced a three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, followed by an indefinite strike from October 26 over the demand for implementation of a five-day working week in the banking sector.

The announcement was made during a demonstration held by bank officers and employees in Jammu on Thursday, where UFBU leaders briefed the media about their demands and the proposed agitation.

The UFBU represents the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF) and Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC).

According to the unions, around eight lakh bank employees and officers working in public sector, private sector, foreign, regional rural and cooperative banks are expected to participate in the three-day strike.

Addressing the gathering, AIBOC Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Secretary Rajesh Mehta said the principal demand was approval by the Union Government for implementing a five-day working week in the banking industry, with all Saturdays declared holidays.

At present, banks observe holidays only on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.

Mehta said the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had recommended the proposal following the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the IBA and UFBU on December 7, 2023, and the Settlement/Joint Note dated March 8, 2024.

He said the proposal had remained pending with the government for nearly two years despite repeated representations by the unions.

The UFBU had earlier called a two-day strike on March 24 and 25, 2025, but deferred the agitation after the government conveyed that the matter was under active consideration, Mehta said.

“Even after this assurance, approval has not been given,” he said, adding that the unions had subsequently organised various protest programmes before announcing the fresh strike schedule.

The unions said the demand was based on an arrangement under which working hours from Monday to Friday would be increased by 40 minutes to compensate for the additional Saturdays being declared holidays.

UFBU leaders pointed out that five-day working arrangements are already followed in several parts of the financial and public sectors, including the Reserve Bank of India, LIC and GIC, while central and state government offices generally function from Monday to Friday. They also noted that stock exchanges and several segments of money and foreign exchange markets do not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

According to the unions, the banking sector had moved towards the present Saturday holiday system following the 10th Bipartite Settlement/7th Joint Note in 2015, under which the second and fourth Saturdays were declared holidays while the remaining Saturdays became full working days instead of half-day operations.

The unions said the demand for making all Saturdays holidays was subsequently kept under consideration during wage negotiations.

They further stated that in 2022, the government and IBA agreed to discuss the issue with UFBU, including a proposal to increase daily working hours to facilitate a five-day banking week. Following discussions in 2023, the parties agreed in principle to increase daily working hours from Monday to Friday by 40 minutes and declare the remaining Saturdays as holidays.

The unions argued that the change would not cause major inconvenience to customers, citing the widespread availability of digital banking, ATMs and other alternative delivery channels.

The UFBU appealed to banking customers to bear with them for any inconvenience caused during the proposed agitation.

The three-day strike is scheduled for September 28, 29 and 30, while the indefinite strike is scheduled to begin on October 26 if the issue remains unresolved.