2 hrs ago
Bank Strike Disrupts Public Sector Services Over Five-Day Workweek
Bank employees across India went on strike.
They wanted banks to close every Saturday, instead of opening on some Saturdays.
They also wanted several pension and wage-related issues to be settled.
Many public sector bank branches were closed or worked only partly.
This made cash deposits, withdrawals and cheque processing difficult.
Most private banks continued operating normally.
Digital services such as UPI and internet banking still worked.
The unions said the government had not accepted their demands.
Banks warned customers that branch services could be affected.
The United Forum of Bank Unions called a nationwide strike to demand a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage-related issues.
Most public sector bank branches were fully or partially closed, affecting cash services, cheque clearances and administrative work.
Private sector banks were largely unaffected, although some old-generation private banks also reported disruption.
UPI, internet banking and other digital services continued to function during the strike.
Unions also sought pension improvements, a uniform dearness allowance formula and an option to switch from the National Pension System to the Old Pension Scheme.
- Who
- The United Forum of Bank Unions and its constituent employee and officer unions, including the All India Bank Employees Association, organized the strike.
- What
- A nationwide bank strike disrupted branch-based services while unions demanded a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage and pension issues.
- Where
- Across India, particularly at public sector bank branches.
- When
- The strike took place on Friday, September 11; the articles do not specify the year.
- Why
- The unions said the government had not agreed to implement all Saturdays as holidays or resolve other outstanding wage and pension-related demands.
Union position
Bank and government position
Five-day workweek
Union position
The unions demanded immediate notification of all Saturdays as holidays, saying the proposal had already been agreed in the 12th Bipartite Settlement and that employees were being discriminated against.
Bank and government position
The articles report that government notification was still pending; no separate government response or detailed rationale was provided.
Effect on banking services
Union position
The unions proceeded with the strike after saying there had been no positive outcome on their demands.
Bank and government position
Public sector banks said they had made arrangements for normal operations but warned customers that branch work could still be affected; digital services remained available.
Key facts
- Strike organizer
- United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body of seven unions
- Represented workforce
- About 90 percent of bank officers and employees
- Main demand
- Immediate implementation of a five-day workweek with all Saturdays as holidays
- Branch services affected
- Cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and administrative work
- Digital services
- UPI and internet banking remained functional
- Current Saturday schedule
- Banks currently open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays
- Additional demands
- Pension improvements, a uniform dearness allowance formula and an option to move from the National Pension System to the Old Pension Scheme
- Related agreement
- The all-Saturdays holiday proposal was reportedly included in the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks' Association in March 2024, pending government notification
Quotes
State Bank of India
Public sector bank issuing an advisory to customers
“Since there was no positive outcome and the government did not agree to our demand, this strike is forced on us. Bank employees and officers are highly aggrieved that they alone are being discriminated against.”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
livemint.com
“We advise that while the bank has made all necessary arrangements to ensure normal functioning of the branches and offices on the days of strike, it is likely that work in banks may be impacted by the strike”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
livemint.com
Sources
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