Major bank strike scheduled for March: Four consecutive days of bank closures

NEW DELHI: Banks will remain closed for four consecutive days as employee unions jointly go on strike on March 24 and 25. The reason is that the preceding days are Sundays and fourth Saturdays.

The strike is being held to demand five-day working week, regularization of temporary employees, regular appointments in all cadres, raising the gratuity limit to Rs 25 lakhs and making it exempt from income tax, and abolishing taxes on welfare schemes. The government is in talks to avert the strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), a joint organization of 9 unions including BEFI, AIBEA, AIBOC, and NCBE.

Protest programs have also been decided in advance. Black badges will be worn on February 28. On March 3, a Parliament march will be held and a petition will be submitted to the Department of Financial Services. On March 7, a nationwide demonstration will be held at 5:15 pm, and protests will be held on March 11. A rally will be held on March 21.

The demands include withdrawal of the Department of Financial Services' (DFS) new performance review and incentive proposals that affect the future of employees, retention of 51% government stake in IDBI Bank, ensuring safety of employees in banks, and action to curb customer misconduct.