Bank Unions Nationwide Strike on January 27 for 5-Day Work Week

Banking services across India are expected to face disruptions on January 27, 2026, as nearly 8,00,000 bank employees and officers will participate in a nationwide strike, as per news reports.  

The strike, organised by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), aims to push for the implementation of a 5-day work week in the banking sector. 

Reason Behind the Strike 

The UFBU, an umbrella body comprising 9 bank employees’ and officers’ organisations, has called for this strike due to the delay in government approval for declaring all Saturdays as bank holidays.  

The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) recommended a 5-day work week, but the proposal has been pending with the government for 2 years.  

The unions argue that this delay is unjustified, especially since a memorandum of understanding was signed between UFBU and IBA on December 7, 2023, reaffirmed in a settlement on March 8, 2024. 

Impact on Banking Services 

The proposed strike will affect public sector banks, private sector banks, foreign banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks.  

As a result, banking services across the country are likely to be disrupted. However, the unions have assured that alternative banking channels will remain available to the public. 

Historical Context and Assurances 

In the 10th bipartite settlement and 7th joint note in 2015, the government and IBA agreed to declare the 2nd and 4th Saturdays as holidays, with a commitment to consider the remaining Saturdays later. Despite repeated assurances, the issue remains unresolved.  

The UFBU had previously deferred a proposed 2-day strike on March 24 and 25, 2025, following government assurances that the matter was under active consideration. 

Read More: HDFC Bank Highlights ₹305 Crore Deposits per Branch, Signals Deposit Growth Visibility! 

Comparison with Other Institutions 

The unions highlight that a 5-day work week has already been implemented in institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC).  

Additionally, central and state government offices, stock exchanges, and money, and foreign exchange markets operate only from Monday to Friday. 

Conclusion 

The nationwide strike on January 27, 2026, underscores the bank unions' demand for a 5day work week, aligning with other financial and governmental institutions. While the strike may cause temporary disruptions, alternative banking channels will remain operational. 

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