A massive strike wave swept India’s public sector banks on Tuesday, with employees united under the UFBU banner pushing for a five-day workweek. This coalition of nine unions halted operations after stalled negotiations with labour authorities earlier in the week. Major lenders like SBI, PNB, and BoB saw services grind to a halt, affecting everyday banking from cash handling to clearances.
Private banks escaped the chaos, operating seamlessly. Protests erupted in states including UP, Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. In Lucknow, Indian Bank’s Anshika Singh Visen explained the core issue: a prior agreement for weekend holidays remains unimplemented amid rising workloads. ‘Everyone from RBI to governments has Saturdays off—why not us?’ she questioned, emphasizing bankers’ pivotal role in grassroots scheme delivery.
Vadodra’s demonstrations drew sharp words from UFBU’s Sanjay Jha, who lamented unheeded pleas to management. Patna’s PNB employee Ritika highlighted mental strain from endless pressure: ‘Hundreds here demand Saturday offs. We execute national programs; this is fair.’
In Raipur, 25,000 staff from thousands of branches marched, led by union head Milind Marte. ‘Eight lakh employees striking today—our 2015 demand mirrors practices elsewhere,’ a participant said. Cooch Behar’s SBI protests reinforced the message. The action disrupted citizens nationwide, sparking calls for swift resolution to restore normalcy and equity in banking hours.