The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has deferred its three-day nationwide strike, which was due to begin on Monday, after talks with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) on Sunday night.
Just hours before millions of bank customers braced for three days of disrupted services, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) deferred its three-day nationwide strike following an eleventh-hour meeting with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
According to a statement released by UFBU, the bank union met the Indian Banks’ Association at 9.30 pm on Sunday. After talks, both sides agreed on the following:
- A joint committee of the IBA and UFBU will be set up right away to look at the issue of making all Saturdays bank holidays. This committee will study every option, talk to everyone affected, and try to find a solution that works for all sides, especially customers.
- Talks will begin with the IBA on changing the PLI scheme for Scale IV and above officers, so their concerns can be raised with the government.
- Other pending issues, listed in the minutes from March 8, 2024, will be discussed so they can be settled soon.
Because of these agreements, the UFBU said it would call off its planned protests and strikes for now.
Speaking to NDTV, R Sekaran, President of the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation, said, “The IBA has agreed to constitute a high-level committee to review our demand for ‘five-day banking.’ Representatives from the ‘United Forum of Bank Unions’ will also be part of this high-level committee. The committee will deliberate on this demand after consulting all stakeholders.”
Bank strike deferred after the meeting between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) tonight. https://t.co/SPJUwp63p2
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2026
The strikes, which were planned to start on Monday, were the biggest step yet in a longer fight by bank unions this year over two major demands: a five-day working week for banks, and changes to a new incentive scheme for senior officers. Bank employees were set to go on strike to press for their primary demand, the implementation of “five-day banking” across all banks.
Around 8 lakh bank officers and employees were expected to take part in the three-day strike, which was set to affect over 1.81 lakh bank branches across the country. With the strike looming, banks and customers had already begun preparing for the disruption. All public sector and regional rural banks stayed open on Sunday, September 27, so customers could finish essential branch work before the strike began.
