Around 75,000 bank employees and officers in Gujarat joined a nationwide strike on Friday, September 11, demanding a five-day working week, equal profit-linked incentives (PLI) and a halt to the proposed privatisation of IDBI Bank.
In Ahmedabad, protesting employees raised slogans against the central government during demonstrations. The strike has affected banking operations and financial transactions worth around ₹15,000 crore in Gujarat.
More than 7.5 lakh bank employees and officers across the country are participating in the strike under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).Unions threaten further strikesBank unions have warned that if their demands are not addressed, they will observe a three-day strike from September 28 to 30, followed by an indefinite strike from October.The unions’ key demand is the implementation of a five-day working week in banks, similar to LIC and other central government departments. Employees have said they are willing to work an additional 40 minutes a day to compensate for the change.
The unions also want changes to the PLI system to address alleged disparities between lower-level employees and senior officials, along with a halt to the privatisation of IDBI Bank and resolution of other service-related issues.Banking operations, including administrative work and clearing house activities, have been affected in Gujarat as employees stayed away from work.
Union representatives said that despite meetings with the Union Finance Ministry and the Central Labour Commissioner, no satisfactory solution has been reached.They warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government fails to take a positive decision on their demands.