Bank strike disrupts PSB branches as unions press for five-day week

New Delhi: Banking services at public sector branches across the country were disrupted on Friday as employees and officers joined a nationwide strike demanding a five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage and pension issues.

Most public sector bank branches were either fully or partially closed, affecting cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and administrative work. Some old-generation private sector banks also experienced disruption, while private banks largely functioned normally.

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Digital services, including UPI and internet banking, remained operational.

The strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of seven unions representing around 90 percent of bank officers and employees.

Unions seek notification on Saturday holidays

At the centre of the dispute is the demand to declare all Saturdays bank holidays. The unions say the proposal was agreed upon during the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks’ Association in March 2024 but is still awaiting government notification.

Banks currently operate on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month.

“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,” All India Bank Employees Association General Secretary C H Venkatachalam told PTI.

The association is a constituent of the UFBU.

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Pension demands remain unresolved

The unions are also seeking pension revision and improvements, a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and an option for employees covered by the National Pension System to switch to the Old Pension Scheme.

Most public sector banks had alerted customers to possible disruption ahead of the strike.

State Bank of India said in a customer advisory that it had made arrangements to maintain normal operations at its branches and offices, but warned that the strike could affect services.

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