Strike Continues! IBA UFBU Meeting Update 14 January, Read What happened in today’s meeting

Today, a meeting was held between IBA and UFBU regarding introduction of 5-Day Banking. UFBU has announced a strike on 27 January 2026, demanding immediate implementation of 5-Day Banking. The Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had invited major bank employee and officer unions for a meeting on 14 January 2026 to discuss their demands related to the proposed nationwide bank strike.

What happened in Meeting: What decision was taken?

In response to the strike notice served by UFBU on the IBA, the IBA invited UFBU for a discussion today. Accordingly, the discussions took place in IBA office this afternoon. IBA was represented by the Chief Executive Shri A K Goel, Dy. Chief Executive Shri. Gopal Murali Bhagat, Mr. Brajeshwar Sharma, outgoing Sr. Advisor, HR&IR, and the new incumbent Shri Arvind Misra. UFBU was represented by representatives of all constituent Unions.

IBA informed UFBU that the demand for declaring the remaining 2 Saturdays also as holidays has already been recommended to the Government and the response of the Government is still awaited as the same is under their consideration. IBA further stated that few more issues are also pending resolution, particularly the issue of PLI. Hence IBA suggested that all these issues will be further pursued and hence requested the UFBU to postpone strike action on the 27th January, 2026.

Reacting to IBA’s request, UFBU pointed out that while in 2015, 2nd and 4th Saturdays were agreed to be declared as holidays, it was assured that declaring the remaining two Saturdays as holidays will be considered in due course. But nothing has happened after that. In February, 2023, UFBU agreed for increase of 40 minutes in working hours per day on all Monday to Friday and IBA agreed to declare remaining Saturdays as holidays, subject to approved by the authorities. This proposal has already been recommended to Government and it is still pending for the past two years. UFBU emphasised that in the present scenario of banking, declaring the remaining two Saturdays as holidays is most essential. In view of the inordinate delay in implementing this understanding reached between IBA and UFBU, UFBU regretted its inability to accept IBA’s request to postpone the strike.

Hence STRIKE CALL STANDS. UFBU has requested all Unions to implement the All India Strike on 27th January, 2026.

Background of Meeting

The meeting was called after the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) issued a strike notice on 8 January 2026. The strike has been proposed from midnight of 26 January to midnight of 27 January 2026.

The meeting took place at 2:30 PM in the Committee Room of IBA at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai. The purpose of the meeting was to hold discussions with union representatives and try to resolve the issues raised by them.

The invitation was sent to all major bank unions, including AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, AIBOA, BEFI, INBEF, INBOC, NOBW and NOBO. The IBA had requested union leaders to attend the meeting so that the demands can be discussed and possible solutions can be explored before the proposed strike dates.