Banking operations to be hit on January 27 as unions to go on strike seeking five-day work week

Public sector banks will face disruptions on January 27 due to a nationwide strike demanding a five-day work week.

Banking operations of public sector banks across the country are likely to be impacted with the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) deciding to go ahead with a nationwide strike on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) to press for the immediate implementation of a five-day work week.

The strike call by the UFBU, an umbrella body of nine unions representing officers and employees, comes after a conciliation meeting on January 23 with the Chief Labour Commissioner failed to yield a positive outcome.

With banks remaining closed on Sunday (January 25) and January 26 (Republic Day), the strike on Tuesday (January 27) will result in a disruption of branch-level services for three consecutive days.

"Despite detailed discussions during the conciliation proceedings, there was no assurance on our demand. Hence, we have been compelled to proceed with the strike action," All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), a constituent of UFBU, General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam told PTI.

All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) General Secretary Rupam Roy said the decision to declare all Saturdays as holidays was agreed between the Indian Banks' Association and the UFBU during the wage revision settlement in March 2024.

"It is unfortunate that the government is not responding to our genuine demand. There would be no loss of man-hours as we have agreed to work an extra 40 minutes daily from Monday to Friday," he said.