credits- njb magazine
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has confirmed a nationwide strike on March 24 and 25 after discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) failed to resolve key demands. The decision follows two days of negotiations that did not yield a resolution, according to a report by PTI.
Talks Between UFBU and IBA Fail to Reach Consensus
The UFBU, an umbrella body representing nine bank workers’ unions, had engaged in discussions with the IBA on March 13 in an attempt to settle long-standing issues. However, the talks ended without an agreement, prompting the unions to move forward with their strike plan.
The forum consists of major banking sector unions, including the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), and the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), among others.
Confirming the strike, L Chandrasekhar, General Secretary of the NCBE, stated that key concerns remain unresolved, leaving no choice but to proceed with the strike.
Key Demands Raised by the UFBU
The strike has been called to highlight major concerns related to recruitment and working conditions in public sector banks (PSBs). Among the primary demands raised during discussions with the IBA are:
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Recruitment Across All Cadres
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Implementation of a Five-Day Work Week
Impact of the Nationwide Strike
With the strike scheduled for March 24-25, banking services, including branch operations, cash transactions, and customer support, are expected to be significantly impacted across the country. Customers are likely to face disruptions, particularly in public sector banks, where the majority of employees are unionized under the UFBU.
Private sector banks, digital banking services, and ATMs may not be directly affected, but heavy transaction loads and backend operations could see delays.
The UFBU has called upon the government and banking authorities to take immediate steps to resolve the deadlock. With no agreement in sight, the upcoming strike is set to put pressure on the banking system and policymakers.
