Bank Unions Set Jan 27 Strike to Press Five-Day Week Demand
Bank Unions Set Jan 27 Strike to Press Five-Day Week Demand
Public sector bank employees plan a nationwide strike on Jan 27 to push for a uniform five-day work week, citing worldwide precedents and a 40-minute daily extension already agreed.
Bank employee unions have announced a nationwide strike on January 27 to press for a long-pending demand for a five-day work week. The umbrella body UFBU, which represents nine unions of officers and employees at public sector banks, says their demand is not new and has been longstanding despite ongoing wage talks. They note that, even as the wage revision settled in March 2024 included an agreement to work an extra 40 minutes daily from Monday to Friday, banks continue to operate with Saturdays (second and fourth) and Sundays off in addition to January holidays.
If the strike proceeds, it could disrupt public sector banking operations for three consecutive days, with January 25 and 26 treated as holidays. Banks have informed customers about potential disruptions to routine services, and many are expected to shift to alternative arrangements or advisory notices in the run-up to the strike. The decision follows a conciliation meeting at the Chief Labour Commissioner’s office, attended by representatives of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA), UFBU, and officials from the DFS and the Ministry of Finance. According to UFBU, the discussions did not yield a positive outcome, reinforcing the decision to proceed with the strike.
UFBU emphasizes that the current five-day work week is already followed by RBI, LIC, GIC, stock exchanges, and various government offices, arguing there is no justification for banks to lag behind. The nine unions described the move as a reasonable demand given comparable practices in other government-related entities and the fact that the additional 40 minutes of daily work was introduced as part of a wage settlement rather than a concession on staffing.
With the strike potentially impacting public sector banks nationwide, customers are urged to plan ahead, check bank advisories, and use alternative channels where possible. The outcome of this standoff could influence future wage talks and work-week norms across India’s banking sector, including possible negotiations on service delivery standards during disruptions.
