Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Bank Unions Plan Three-Day Strike Over Five-Day Week
Bank employees in India may go on strike for three days from September 28 to 30.
They want banks to operate five days a week instead of the current schedule.
They say this change was agreed to in principle in a wage settlement in March 2024.
They also want better pension rules and changes to an employee incentive plan.
The government says the incentive plan has been put on hold, but the five-day week is still being considered.
The strike would follow bank holidays on September 26 and 27, so branches could be closed for five days in a row.
Banks are telling customers to finish urgent branch work before September 25.
Customers may still use online banking, mobile apps, ATMs, UPI and other digital services for many routine transactions.
The United Forum of Bank Unions and seven other unions have proposed a nationwide strike from September 28 to 30.
The unions, representing about 90% of public-sector banking employees, are demanding implementation of a five-day working week.
Their other demands include pension revisions, a uniform pension formula, an old-pension option for National Pension System employees, and changes to the performance-linked incentive scheme.
Because September 26 and 27 are bank holidays, branches could remain closed for five consecutive days, while several banks have advised customers to complete urgent work by September 25.
The Finance Ministry has urged dialogue, citing the September 30 half-yearly closing, while unions have threatened an indefinite strike from October 26 if demands remain unresolved.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions and seven other employee and officer unions representing about 90% of public-sector banking employees.
- What
- A proposed three-day nationwide bank strike over a five-day workweek, pension changes and the performance-linked incentive scheme.
- When
- September 28 to 30; one report identifies the dates as occurring in 2026. The unions have also announced a possible indefinite strike from October 26.
- Where
- Across India, with possible effects on bank branches and branch-dependent services.
- Why
- The unions are seeking implementation of a five-day workweek and changes to pension and incentive arrangements.
Bank unions
Finance Ministry and banks
Five-day working week
Bank unions
The unions want immediate implementation of a five-day workweek, which they say was agreed to in principle in March 2024.
Finance Ministry and banks
The Finance Ministry says the demand is still under consideration and has urged employees to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Performance-linked incentive scheme
Bank unions
The unions are seeking abolition of the revised performance-linked incentive scheme.
Finance Ministry and banks
The government says it has addressed this demand by keeping the scheme in abeyance.
Timing and service disruption
Bank unions
The unions have proposed the strike and may launch an indefinite action from October 26 if their demands remain unresolved.
Finance Ministry and banks
The Finance Ministry has cited the September 30 half-yearly closing and urged the unions to call off the action; banks have advised customers to complete urgent work early and use digital channels.
- Proposed strike
- September 28–30
- Earlier strike
- A one-day strike took place on September 11, according to one report.
- Union representation
- About 90% of public-sector banking employees or India’s banking workforce, according to the reports.
- Main demand
- Implementation of a five-day working week agreed to in principle during the March 2024 wage settlement.
- Potential disruption
- Bank branches could be closed for five consecutive days from September 26 through September 30 because of holidays and the proposed strike.
- Government position
- The Finance Ministry says the performance-linked incentive scheme has been kept in abeyance, while the five-day week remains under consideration.
- Alternative services
- Customers can use mobile and internet banking, ATMs, UPI, Business Correspondents, Customer Service Points and Automated Deposit and Withdrawal Machines.
- Further action
- The unions have announced an indefinite strike from October 26 if their demands are not resolved.
