The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has said that the proposed three-day bank strike from September 28 to September 30, 2026, will go ahead as planned. In its Circular No. 2026/30 dated September 26, 2026, the UFBU said that the conciliation meeting held in Delhi on September 22 did not produce any positive outcome. However, the unions told the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) that they would reconsider the strike call if they received a concrete, positive response to their demands.
The UFBU said that informal discussions between the IBA and the unions continued over the past two days, and an online meeting was also held by the IBA Chairman. Efforts were made to find mutually acceptable terms and reconsider the strike, but these discussions did not produce any result. The UFBU said that the strike call therefore remains unchanged and its units and members are continuing preparations to make the three-day strike successful.
The union body also referred to the decision to keep bank branches open on Sunday, September 27, 2026. It said that the IBA approached the RBI and obtained permission to keep banks open on Sunday, which is otherwise a holiday. Since September 27 is not a strike day, the UFBU said it has advised its members to attend branches to serve customers. However, the union alleged that the main purpose of the decision by bank managements is to reduce the impact of the upcoming strike. It said employees attending branches on Sunday would wear black attire, black badges or black ribbons.
The UFBU also alleged that employees and officers, particularly probationers, Branch Managers and officers in Scale IV and above, have faced pressure, threats and intimidation from some managements. The union said that employees who are members of the unions are legally entitled to participate in the strike and called upon them to join the strike.
The circular further alleged that some bank managements were encouraging customers to post messages and videos against the strike. The UFBU said such efforts would not affect its preparations for the strike.
On the demand for a five-day banking week, the UFBU said that some bank managements had issued posters and e-flyers opposing the demand. According to the union, these materials use examples of doctors and police personnel working 24×7 to argue against five-day banking. The UFBU questioned this argument, pointing to the IBA’s earlier agreement to the five-day banking demand, the signing of the settlement by the MDs of various banks on March 8, 2024, and the IBA’s recommendation to the Government.
The UFBU has urged its members not to be distracted by provocations and to focus on making the three-day strike successful across banks.
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