Bank unions keep the 11 September strike after talks on a five-day week stall
UFBU refused to withdraw the notice after an inconclusive sitting with the government and the IBA. A three-day stoppage is listed for 28 to 30 September and an indefinite strike from 26 October. Conciliation resumes at 1.30 p.m. on 9 September.
New Delhi2 min read
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The United Forum of Bank Unions will strike on 11 September. Talks with the government and the Indian Banks’ Association on 8 September did not produce a settlement on a five-day banking week. The Chief Labour Commissioner adjourned conciliation to 1.30 p.m. on 9 September by video. The unions said they would not withdraw the notice in the meantime.
UFBU groups seven organisations: AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF and INBOC. Together they cover most staff in public-sector banks and large numbers in private, foreign, regional rural and co-operative banks. The forum’s calendar after 11 September is a three-day strike on 28, 29 and 30 September and an indefinite strike from 26 October if the main demands stay unmet.
The central demand is the five-day week agreed in the 12th Bipartite Settlement and 9th Joint Note signed on 8 March 2024. In that text the remaining Saturdays were to become holidays and Monday-to-Friday hours were to rise by 40 minutes a day. UFBU says the Indian Banks’ Association accepted the structure and that a 2024 note on how to spread the extra minutes is still sitting with the government. The unions also want the government’s Performance Linked Incentive scheme withdrawn or rewritten through bilateral talks, and a list of residual issues from the last settlement closed.
A strike on Friday 11 September would be followed by a Saturday and Sunday. Some states mark 14 September as a holiday for Ganesh Chaturthi. That calendar is why the unions expect a four-day gap in branch work if the first notice holds. Digital channels and some private-bank counters would still run. Clearing, loan disbursal and cash at public-sector branches would not.
The government has not published a detailed counter-offer. Officials have privately argued that a five-day customer week would inconvenience pensioners and small depositors who use Saturday mornings. The unions answer that the 2024 settlement already priced that inconvenience in extra weekday minutes. The IBA, which negotiates for managements, has not released a new joint note since the 8 September sitting.
Section 62 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 applies once a strike notice is under conciliation. The commissioner reminded both sides of that on 8 September. The reminder does not cancel a strike by itself. It creates a legal argument if either side moves a court. UFBU has struck before under similar reminders and has usually returned after a day or two. An indefinite stoppage from 26 October would be a different scale.
Customers who need a public-sector branch on 11 September should treat the day as closed until a late-night climbdown appears. Staff who cross the picket line will be counted by both sides. The 9 September video call is the last scheduled chance to change the Friday plan before the first notice expires into action.
