Bank Strike: Banks to close nationwide if the government doesn't comply! What are the bank employees' demands?

Bank Strike: Banks across the country may remain closed on January 27th. Bank employees are demanding the implementation of a 5-day work week. Banking services are likely to be affected for several consecutive days due to the strike.

Bank Strike: Organizations of bank employees and officers across the country have warned of a nationwide strike on January 27, 2026, demanding the implementation of a 5-day banking week. This announcement was made under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).

Banking operations will be affected for three consecutive days

If the proposed strike on January 27, 2026, takes place, it will have the greatest impact on the functioning of public sector banks (PSBs). Since January 25th is a Sunday and January 26th is a public holiday (Republic Day), banking services could be disrupted for three consecutive days due to the strike, causing inconvenience to ordinary customers.

What is the current work pattern for bank employees?

Currently, bank employees get holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, as well as all Sundays. However, during the wage revision agreement in March 2024, an agreement was reached between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and UFBU that the remaining two Saturdays of the month would also be declared holidays, but this decision has not yet been implemented.

UFBU's claim: Working hours will not be reduced

UFBU claims that the implementation of a 5-day work week will not affect banking operations. According to the organization, employees have agreed to work an additional 40 minutes each day from Monday to Friday, so the total working hours will remain the same as before, and there will be no negative impact on productivity.

Many institutions are already working on a 5-day week

UFBU has argued that several important institutions in the country have already adopted a 5-day work system. These include the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and General Insurance Corporation (GIC). In addition, the foreign exchange market, money market, stock market, and central and state government offices also remain closed on Saturdays. Therefore, there is no compelling reason for banks not to adopt a five-day work week.

The UFBU has alleged that the government is not giving any concrete response to their legitimate and long-pending demands, which is increasing resentment among bank employees. This dissatisfaction has led to the decision to hold an all-India strike in all banks on January 27, 2026. According to the union, the social media campaign #5DayBankingNow, demanding a five-day banking week, has proven quite effective. So far, the campaign has received over 1.88 million impressions and approximately 285,000 posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Who is UFBU?

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is a joint platform of nine major bank unions in the country, representing employees and officers working in public sector banks and some old private sector banks.

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