Banking Services Hit as Unions Go on Nationwide Strike for Five-Day Work Week

New Delhi (Economy India): Banking operations at public sector banks (PSBs) across the country were disrupted on Tuesday after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) observed a nationwide strike, pressing for the immediate implementation of a five-day work week in the banking sector.

Most public sector bank branches remained either fully closed or partially operational, as both officers and employees participated in the strike, affecting routine services such as cash transactions, cheque clearing, branch-based customer services, and loan processing.

Strike After Talks With Government Fail

The strike follows a conciliation meeting held on January 23 with the Chief Labour Commissioner, which failed to result in any agreement between the unions and the government.

Explaining the decision, C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA)—a constituent of UFBU—said bank employees were left with no alternative.

“Since there was no positive outcome and the government did not agree to our demand, hence this strike is forced on us. Bank employees and officers are highly aggrieved that they alone are being discriminated against,” Venkatachalam told PTI.

What Is UFBU Demanding?

The United Forum of Bank Unions is an umbrella body of nine unions representing officers and employees across public sector banks. Its key demand is the implementation of a five-day work week, similar to other government departments and financial institutions.

Union leaders argue that:

• Bank employees continue to work six days a week, unlike most central government staff
• Increasing workloads due to digital banking, compliance requirements, and staffing shortages have added pressure
• A five-day work week would improve work-life balance, productivity, and employee morale

The unions have maintained that discussions on the issue have been ongoing for years, but no concrete decision has been taken by the government.

Impact on Customers

Customers in several cities reported difficulty accessing basic banking services, particularly at public sector banks, which account for a major share of India’s retail and rural banking network.

Services impacted included:

• Cash deposits and withdrawals
• Cheque clearing and demand draft issuance
• In-branch customer service requests
• Loan disbursements and documentation

Private sector banks and digital channels, however, continued operations normally, offering partial relief to customers.

Government Yet to Respond

The government has not issued an official statement on Tuesday’s strike. However, officials have previously indicated that any decision on a five-day work week would require broader consultations, given its impact on banking availability and customer access, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.

Industry experts note that with public sector banks already facing manpower constraints, prolonged disruptions could affect credit flow and routine banking services if the issue remains unresolved.

What Lies Ahead

Union leaders have warned that if their demands continue to be ignored, further agitation cannot be ruled out. They have urged the government to resume dialogue and take a time-bound decision on the long-pending issue.

For now, customers are advised to rely on digital banking platforms, ATMs, and private banks for essential transactions, as normal operations are expected to resume once the strike concludes.

(Economy India)