Bank unions have deferred their proposed three-day nationwide strike after discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and bank managements.
The decision means banks will continue to function normally, according to All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) general secretary C. H. Venkatachalam.
The unions had raised three key demands, including the long-pending demand for a five-day working week for bank employees.
Following a meeting held on Sunday evening, the IBA and the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) agreed to immediately constitute a high-level committee to examine the proposal to declare the remaining Saturdays as holidays.
The committee will deliberate on the issue and explore how a five-day banking week could be implemented.
The development comes after bank employees had announced a three-day nationwide strike, which had raised concerns about disruptions to banking services across the country.
With the strike now deferred, customers can expect banking operations to continue as normal for the time being. The committee’s discussions and any subsequent decision will determine the next steps on the five-day working week proposal.
The latest understanding between the unions and bank managements therefore shifts the focus from industrial action to negotiations over working days and holidays.
