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Bank employees launch nationwide strike in India
Bank employees and officers across India, represented by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), launched a nationwide strike on September 11, 2026. The agitation primarily targets the immediate implementation of a five-day banking week, a demand that has been pending since previous agreements in 2015 and 2024.
Other key grievances include the restructuring of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which unions claim is discriminatory, and unresolved issues regarding pensions, including the desire for employees to opt for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS). The strike has significantly disrupted branch-level operations at public sector banks, affecting services such as cash deposits, withdrawals, and cheque clearances.
While physical branch services were impacted, digital banking channels—including UPI, internet banking, and ATMs—remained largely operational. The UFBU has warned of further escalations, including a three-day strike from September 28 to 30 and an indefinite nationwide strike starting October 26 if their demands are not met by the government and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA).
Entities
All India Bank Employees' Association · India · Indian Banks' Association · Indian Banks’ Association · Ministry of Finance · State Bank of India · United Forum of Bank Unions
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 18 SOURCES] A primary demand of the strike is the implementation of a five-day banking week. navbharatlive.com · hindi.news18.com · yespunjab.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.pardaphash.com · +12 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Unions have warned of an indefinite strike starting October 26 if demands are not met. hindi.pardaphash.com · sanmarg.in · www.aajsamaaj.com · english.publictv.in · kannada.asianetnews.com · +1 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Unions are protesting the restructuring of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. navbharatlive.com · hindi.news18.com · yespunjab.com · hindi.pardaphash.com · indtoday.com · +3 more
- [DISPUTED] The UFBU called for a nationwide strike on September 11. navbharatlive.com · hindi.news18.com · yespunjab.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.pardaphash.com · +12 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The UFBU represents approximately 90 percent of bank employees and officers. navbharatlive.com · yespunjab.com · indtoday.com · sanmarg.in · www.dinalipi.com · +3 more
- [● 17 SOURCES] Digital services like UPI, internet banking, and ATMs are expected to remain operational during the strike. navbharatlive.com · yespunjab.com · desitalkchicago.com · hindi.pardaphash.com · hindi.news18.com · +11 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The strike includes demands for pension-related resolutions. hindi.news18.com · yespunjab.com · hindi.pardaphash.com · kannada.asianetnews.com · newsable.asianetnews.com · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] A three-day strike is planned for September 28 to 30. yespunjab.com · kannada.asianetnews.com · sanmarg.in · www.aajsamaaj.com · english.publictv.in · +1 more