Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Indian Bank Unions Proceed With Nationwide Strike Friday
Bank unions in India plan to stop work on Friday, September 11.
They want banks to operate five days a week instead of the current arrangement.
Government and banking officials held talks with the unions, but no agreement was reached.
Officials asked the unions to postpone the strike because an important BRICS meeting was taking place in New Delhi.
The unions said they would continue unless the government made a favourable decision or gave a clear timeline.
Banks are also closed on the second Saturday, Sunday and Ganesh Chaturthi in some states around this period.
The unions have announced another three-day strike later in September.
They may begin an indefinite strike in October if their demands are not resolved.
The United Forum of Bank Unions will proceed with its nationwide strike on Friday, September 11.
The unions said talks with the government and banking authorities failed to produce a decision on a five-day banking week.
The Department of Financial Services appealed for the strike to be deferred because of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
The unions said they would not defer the action without a favourable decision or definite implementation timeline.
Further strikes are planned for September 28-30, followed by an indefinite strike from October 26 if demands remain unresolved.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions and its member bank unions, along with government and banking authorities.
- What
- Bank unions will hold a nationwide strike over service conditions, chiefly their demand for a five-day banking week.
- When
- The first strike is planned for Friday, September 11; additional strikes are planned for September 28-30 and from October 26 indefinitely if demands remain unresolved.
- Where
- Nationwide, with the latest conciliation talks held in New Delhi.
- Why
- The unions said negotiations produced no concrete outcome on the five-day banking week and no definite implementation timeline.
Bank Unions
Government and Banking Authorities
Whether to defer the strike
Bank Unions
The United Forum of Bank Unions said it would not defer the strike without a favourable decision or definite timeline for the five-day banking week.
Government and Banking Authorities
The Department of Financial Services appealed to the unions to reconsider the strike because of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi.
Progress on the five-day week
Bank Unions
The unions said two rounds of online meetings produced no concrete outcome on their principal demand.
Government and Banking Authorities
Government and banking representatives participated in conciliation talks, but the articles do not report a specific alternative proposal or agreement.
- Strike date
- Friday, September 11
- Main demand
- Implementation of a five-day banking week
- Union body
- United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)
- Talks participants
- UFBU, Indian Banks’ Association, Department of Financial Services and labour authorities
- Additional strike
- A three-day nationwide strike from September 28-30
- Potential indefinite strike
- From October 26 if demands remain unresolved
- Related event
- BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi during September 11-13