Bank Strike: The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), the largest organization of bank employee unions, has called for a nationwide strike to protest the non-implementation of its long-standing and key demand, a 5-day work week. Despite the agreement reached in March 2024, all Saturdays have not yet been declared holidays, causing widespread anger among bank employees.
This strike will not only affect check clearance and cash transactions, but also pose significant inconvenience to the general public. Find out which banks are participating in this strike and what the employees’ main demands are.
Why is the bank strike happening
The main reason for the bank shutdown is a demand from employees that has been languishing for several years. The UFBU, a common platform of nine major bank unions, says that in March 2024, an agreement was reached with the Indian Banks Association (IBA) that banks would operate only five days a week.
According to current rules, bank employees are only given leave on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, while they are required to work full days on the first and third Saturdays. Employees argue that when the RBI, LIC, stock exchanges, and almost all central and state government offices implement a five-day work week, why is this discrimination against banks? A protest has been called for January 27, 2026, to protest the delay in implementing this decision.
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These banks will be closed
This strike is expected to impact almost all major public sector banks in the country. Given the firm stance of employee unions, banking services could be completely disrupted. Employees from major banks like the State Bank of India (SBI), as well as Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Bank of India, and Indian Bank, are participating in this movement.
From Jodhpur in Rajasthan to other major cities across the country, bank employees have begun demonstrations with banners and slogans. Employees are clear that if their demands are still not met, the strike could drag on.
40 Minutes Extra Work Accepted
The question often arises: Will bank operations be reduced if Saturdays are a holiday? In response, unions have made a logical proposal to the government. Bank employees say they are willing to work 40 minutes extra daily from Monday to Friday in exchange for Saturdays off.
This means that the bank’s total working hours will not be reduced, but rather, employees will be able to work with more energy. This proposal has been pending with the government for the past two years. Employees believe that this step will not only improve their work-life balance but will also have no negative impact on the operational efficiency of banks in this era of digital banking.
How to Avoid Trouble
To avoid any financial crisis due to the strike, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First, if you need a large sum of cash, withdraw it by January 26th, as ATMs may run out of cash during the strike. However, digital services like UPI, net banking, and mobile banking are expected to remain operational.
But be aware that check clearance may be completely disrupted, delaying your payments. If your loan EMI is due on the 27th, manage your account balance in advance, as the clearing house shutdown may cause technical difficulties.