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Bank Strike Looms: 4 Days of Disruption Ahead
20 Jan
Summary
- A strike on Jan. 27 follows a weekend and holiday, potentially closing banks for four days.
- Customers face disruption in branch services like deposits and cheque clearing.
- Unions demand the implementation of a five-day work week as agreed in March 2024.
A nationwide strike by bank employees scheduled for January 27, 2026, threatens to disrupt services for four consecutive days. This extended closure is due to the strike falling directly after a weekend and a national holiday. Banks are typically closed on the fourth Saturday of the month (January 24th), followed by Sunday (January 25th) and Republic Day (January 26th), a gazetted holiday. Consequently, customers may experience limited in-branch access from January 24th to 27th.
Services relying on branch operations, such as cash deposits, cheque clearing, and demand drafts, are anticipated to be affected. While digital channels like mobile and internet banking will likely remain operational, in-person customer service and transactions could face significant challenges. The impact is predicted to be more pronounced at government and public sector banks, where union membership is higher.
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) is spearheading the strike, with their primary demand being the implementation of a five-day work week, ensuring all Saturdays become holidays. This demand stems from an agreement made with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) during wage revision settlements in March 2024, which has yet to be officially notified for implementation. Union messaging online, using #Implement5DayBanking, has seen substantial engagement, with over 4.11 lakh posts reaching an estimated 2.09 crore users.
