Bank Employees Strike Today: Banking Services to Be Affected for 4 Days Due to Consecutive Holidays

Bank employees across the country are participating in a nationwide strike today, September 11, to press for various demands, including the implementation of a five-day workweek.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees’ Association and Coordinator of the United Forum of Bank Unions, said that bank managements had agreed in the bilateral settlement signed in March 2024 to declare all Saturdays as holidays.

In return, employees had agreed to increase their daily working hours from Monday to Friday by 40 minutes to provide customer services. However, the agreement has been pending approval from the Union Finance Ministry for nearly two and a half years.

Therefore, bank employees are demanding the implementation of a five-day workweek and holidays on all Saturdays as agreed. They are also demanding that the old pension scheme be implemented for newly recruited employees.

Other demands include revising pension amounts for retired senior citizens in line with current conditions, with banks fully bearing the medical insurance premium for retired employees, and increasing the gratuity ceiling.

To press for these demands, bank employees across the country are participating in the strike on September 11. Seven unions, including the All India Bank Employees’ Association, are taking part in the strike. Around 8 lakh employees and officers across the country, including 60,000 employees in Tamil Nadu, are expected to participate.

Banks will also remain closed on September 12, Saturday, September 13, Sunday, and September 14, Vinayagar Chaturthi, due to holidays.

As a result, banking services are expected to remain affected for four consecutive days.