Himachal bank unions firm on three-day strike from Sept 28

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Five-day banking week, PLI withdrawal among key demands; unions seek talks with Centre

Shimla, September 25

Banking services across the country may be affected from September 28 to 30 as bank employees and officers under the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) are set to observe a three-day nationwide strike over several demands, including a five-day working week.

UFBU Himachal Pradesh convenor Narinder Sharma said the unions had called the strike to implement a five-day banking week, under which Saturdays and Sundays would be weekly holidays. The unions have also demanded the withdrawal of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

The forum has alleged that the Financial Services Department (DFS) introduced the PLI scheme unilaterally. It has also raised concerns over the transfer policy in public sector banks, alleging that officers are being transferred thousands of kilometres away at intervals of three, five, seven and nine years.

The UFBU has also proposed an additional 40 minutes of working time each day as part of discussions on the five-day banking arrangement.

Sharma said more than two-and-a-half years had passed since the agreement with the government, but it had not taken adequate action on several commitments. He said the pending issues had left the unions with no option, but to resort to industrial action.

The unions said they could defer the strike if the Centre initiates talks with the forum and addresses their demands. However, if no progress is made after the September strike, bank unions may consider an indefinite strike in October, Sharma added.