Bank customers may face disruption due to a planned strike from 28th September to 30th September, 2026, by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). This proposed plan arises from a dispute over the implementation of a five-day banking week.
DON'T MISS
Why are the bank workers planning the strike?
The only issue pending between the unions and the authorities is the implementation of the five-day banking week. The union was also against the scheme of Performance Linked Incentive (PLI). However, the Finance Ministry claimed that the government has put the PLI scheme on hold after consultation with the workers. Earlier, the UFBU had called for a one-day strike on September 11. This three-day strike forms a part of their overall plan, wherein an indefinite strike is also planned from 26th October, 2026.
The government urges unions to solve the problems via dialogue.
The Ministry of Finance has requested bank staff members not to go on strike and to carry on with talks in order to solve any issues. It was mentioned that a number of issues brought up by the unions had already been sorted out by the government and that dialogue is the preferred path to sort out any issues left, such as the working day. Ministry has been in constant communication with public sector banks, regional rural banks, the Indian Banks’ Association, and NABARD in order to draw up contingency plans to ensure minimal interference with essential banking services.
Customers will face a five-day disruption period.
The effects of the strike will only come to affect branch-based services from September 28-30, after the weekend holiday on September 26-27. SBI has requested its customers to do their important banking transactions prior to this strike period and make use of Internet Banking facilities where possible.
