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Two-day Nationwide Bank Strike on 24-25 March: UFBU Calls for United Action Over Recruitment, 5-Day Banking and Other Demands
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a nationwide two-day bank strike on 24-25 March 2025, demanding recruitment, a five-day work week, and withdrawal of new performance review policies. Major banking unions, including AIBOC, AIBEA, BEFI, INBOC, AIBOA, NCBE, INBEF, NOBW and NOBO have aligned their agitation plans, leading to a unified protest across the banking sector.
Author: Abhivad
Published: February 7, 2025
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has announced a two-day nationwide bank strike on 24 and 25 March 2025, demanding recruitment, a five-day work week in the banking sector, and resolution of other pending issues.
The call comes after separate announcements by major banking unions, including the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), the All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), who had initiated agitation programmes over similar concerns. UFBU’s decision consolidates these efforts into a unified strike action.
Images - The statement by UFBU on strike call
Key Demands
The unions are pressing for adequate recruitment across all cadres, regularisation of temporary employees, and the implementation of a five-day banking system. Another major demand is the withdrawal of the recent directives by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) concerning performance review and productivity-linked incentives (PLI), which the unions claim threaten job security and create divisions among employees.
Other demands include filling vacant workmen and officer director posts in public sector banks, ensuring employee safety from public assaults, increasing the gratuity ceiling to ₹25 lakh, and exempting staff welfare benefits from income tax. The unions are also calling for the government to maintain a minimum 51% equity stake in IDBI Bank.
Agitation Programme
Leading up to the strike, unions have planned a series of demonstrations, social media campaigns, and protests across India. A significant event in the agitation schedule is the Dharna before Parliament in Delhi on 3 March 2025, where union representatives will submit a memorandum to the Finance Minister and DFS officials.
The unions also oppose the micromanagement of public sector banks (PSBs) by the DFS, outsourcing of permanent jobs, and unfair labour practices in the banking industry.
Impact and Way Forward
With UFBU’s call for a 48-hour nationwide strike, the banking sector is set to witness a widespread shutdown on 24 and 25 March. The unions have urged all members to actively participate in the strike to press for long-standing demands.
Industry stakeholders are watching closely as discussions between the unions and the authorities unfold in the coming weeks.
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