UFBU Call Hits Public Sector Banks, More Strikes Planned Later This Month
Key Points:
- Bank staff across Jamshedpur join nationwide one-day strike
- Unions demand five-day banking week promised in 2024 pact
- Indefinite strike warning issued from October 26 if unresolved
JAMSHEDPUR – Bank employees across the country went on strike on Friday over a five-day banking week and other pending demands. However, the impact was clearly visible in Jamshedpur as well.
The United Forum of Bank Unions called the nationwide stir. Meanwhile, branch-level operations at public sector banks were disrupted in the city.
UFBU-affiliated organizations represent nearly 90 percent of bank officers and employees nationwide. The central demand remains implementation of a five-day banking week.
Bank unions say this arrangement was agreed upon during the 12th bipartite settlement in March 2024. However, the system has still not been implemented.
Besides the five-day week, unions are also opposing changes to the Performance Linked Incentive system. Pension issues and other pending staff matters form part of the agitation too.
No verified official figure has yet emerged on the strike’s financial impact in Jamshedpur. Union representatives or local bank coordination bodies may release clearing and transaction data once the strike ends.
In addition, the strike has affected cash deposits, cheque clearing, drafts and loan-related work. KYC processes and other branch transactions were similarly hit in Jamshedpur, a major industrial and commercial hub.
Similar disruptions were reported across the country in these services. However, UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATM services were expected to function normally throughout.
Moreover, bank unions have announced a phased agitation to pressure the government and the Indian Banks’ Association. A three-day nationwide strike is proposed for September 28, 29 and 30.
If no resolution emerges even after that, unions have warned of an indefinite strike from October 26, 2026. Friday’s stoppage, therefore, marks only the opening phase of a longer agitation.
Unless the government and unions reach agreement on the five-day week and PLI issues, banking services could face a far wider disruption. This is expected to intensify toward the end of September and into October.
The Jamshedpur strike coincided with broader unrest tied to worker demands in the state. A separate five-day banking week agitation is also linked to earlier reporting on the same strike call, after talks between the government and unions failed to reach consensus ahead of the stoppage.
