Bank customers across India could face disruptions in September as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a series of strikes over several demands. The proposed protests come just weeks before the festive season, raising concerns about banking services and cash availability.
The first strike is scheduled for Friday, September 11. With September 12 being a Saturday, followed by Sunday and the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday on September 14, customers could experience an extended interruption in banking operations around this period.
The unions have also announced a three-day strike from September 28 to 30. If their demands remain unresolved, they have warned of an indefinite strike beginning October 26.
The UFBU is primarily demanding a five-day working week, with all Saturdays declared holidays instead of the existing arrangement of holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays. The unions are also seeking changes to the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) system, arguing that incentives should be distributed fairly among employees based on performance without discrimination.
Services at several public sector banks, including State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank, could be affected during the proposed strikes. ATM and digital banking services may also face pressure if physical bank operations are disrupted, although the extent of any interruption will depend on operational arrangements.
Major private-sector banks are not part of the UFBU programme, so their services are expected to remain largely unaffected.
