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Nationwide 48-hour bank strike from March 23-25: Banking services to be disrupted
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 17, 2025: The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for a nationwide 48-hour strike from midnight on March 23 to midnight on March 25, 2024.
Over 8 lakh employees from public sector, private, foreign, cooperative, and regional rural banks are expected to participate, potentially disrupting banking services across the country.
Key Reasons for the Strike:
- Hiring in Public Sector Banks – Over 1.39 lakh positions have been lost in the past decade, affecting customer service.
- Implementation of a Five-Day Workweek – Banks seek parity with RBI, insurance, and financial institutions.
- End to Outsourcing of Permanent Jobs – Unions demand security for banking jobs.
- Withdrawal of Monthly Performance Review & PLI Scheme – Concerns over job security and discrimination.
- Employee Safety Measures – Protection against rising attacks on bank staff.
- Filling of Key Management Positions – Many top posts remain vacant in public sector banks.
- Increase in Gratuity Limit to ₹25 Lakh – Unions demand tax exemption on gratuity.
- Government to Retain 51% Stake in IDBI Bank – To ensure job security for thousands of employees.
- Reducing Government Interference in Banking Policies – Unions claim excessive intervention affects the banking sector’s autonomy.
Impact on Customers:
- Branch services like cash deposits, withdrawals, and cheque clearance will be disrupted.
- ATMs may face cash shortages.
- Increased load on online banking may slow down transactions.
Bank unions have urged the public to support the strike and apologized for the inconvenience. AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam stated that if their demands are ignored, further agitation will follow.