Thiruvananthapuram: Banking services across the country are set to be disrupted for four consecutive days as bank employees’ unions have announced a nationwide strike on January 27, demanding the implementation of a five-day workweek. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
Currently, bank employees get weekly holidays on Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. The unions are demanding that the remaining two Saturdays also be declared holidays. With January 24 being the fourth Saturday, January 25 a Sunday, January 26 a public holiday, and the strike scheduled on January 27, operations in public sector banks are expected to remain affected for four continuous days.
The unions stated that an understanding had been reached between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the United Forum of Bank Unions during wage revision talks held in March last year to declare all Saturdays as holidays. However, they allege that the agreement has not been implemented.
The UFBU clarified that the demand would not reduce total working hours, as bank employees have agreed to work an additional 40 minutes per day from Monday to Friday.
