New Delhi, August 24, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) on Monday announced a nationwide strike on September 11 over the delay in implementing five-day banking, differences over the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme and several pending demands, including pension-related issues.
The umbrella body of nine bank employees’ and officers’ unions also announced a three-day strike from September 28, coinciding with the half-yearly closing. It further warned of an indefinite strike from October 26 if its demands are not addressed by the government and bank management.
The decisions were taken at a UFBU meeting on Sunday, following what the unions described as a negative response from the government to their key demands.
The proposed strikes could disrupt banking services, particularly in public sector banks, for several days. The September 11 strike falls on a Friday and will be followed by two bank holidays, while September 14 is a holiday in some states on account of Ganesh Chaturthi.
On five-day banking, the unions said the Indian Banks’ Association had agreed to the proposal under the 12th Bipartite Settlement/9th Joint Note signed on March 8, 2024. The arrangement would increase daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday. The proposal was subsequently recommended to the government but has remained pending for more than two years, the UFBU said.
The unions have also opposed the government’s PLI scheme for bank officers in Scale IV and above, arguing that it differs from an understanding reached with the IBA on linking incentives to the overall performance of individual banks and maintaining uniformity across cadres.
Under the government scheme, Scale IV and above officers could receive PLI of up to 365 days of basic pay based on individual performance, while workmen employees and officers up to Scale III would receive a maximum of 15 days’ basic pay plus dearness allowance, according to the UFBU.
Other demands include pension updation, a uniform dearness allowance formula for pensioners and an option for employees covered by the National Pension System to switch to the old pension scheme.
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