Banks to remain open after strike postponement (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: A proposed three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28 to 30 has been deferred after late-night discussions between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The decision comes as a relief for millions of bank customers who were expecting disruptions in banking services.
The strike was called off after the IBA assured unions that their key demands, including the long-pending demand for a five-day banking week, would be examined through further discussions.
The decision was taken following a meeting between representatives of the IBA and UFBU at around 9:30 pm on Sunday. During the discussion, both sides addressed several pending issues raised by bank employees’ unions.
According to the UFBU statement, a high-level committee consisting of representatives from both sides will be formed to examine the demand for declaring all Saturdays as holidays for bank employees.
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The committee will explore possible solutions and consult with stakeholders before moving ahead with any decision.
Bank unions have been demanding a five-day banking week for a long time. At present, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, while employees are seeking holidays on all Saturdays.
The demand was also included in the March 2024 wage settlement discussions but has remained pending for further action.
Apart from Saturday holidays, unions have also raised concerns regarding the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Scale IV and above officers.
The UFBU said discussions on the PLI scheme will now continue with the IBA before any proposal is moved further. Other pending issues mentioned in earlier discussions will also be reviewed.
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With the strike deferred, banks are expected to operate normally from Monday, September 28. Customers will not face the three-day closure that was earlier expected due to the planned nationwide protest.
The focus will now shift to the upcoming discussions between IBA and UFBU on the five-day banking week, Saturday holidays, PLI changes and other pending demands.
