Workers at two of India's largest public sector banks, the State Bank of India (SBI) and Union Bank of India, have announced a three-day strike beginning September 28 and running through September 30. The industrial action is being called by employee unions representing staff at both institutions, and bank authorities have already issued advisories urging customers to complete any pending branch-level transactions well in advance.
The strike has been organised jointly by federations affiliated with the SBI and Union Bank workforce. Union leaders say the action follows repeated failures of management to resolve core employment issues that have lingered for years. While ATM and digital banking services are expected to remain functional throughout the period, branch operations across both banks are likely to be severely disrupted as staff participate in the strike.
Central to the workers' demands is the permanent absorption of contractual employees who have been working alongside permanent staff for extended periods without receiving equivalent security or benefits. Union representatives argue that these contractual workers have contributed significantly to daily banking operations and deserve a clear pathway to permanent employment. A second major demand involves the regularisation of probationary officers and other staff members whose confirmations have been delayed beyond prescribed timelines.
Service-related grievances also form a substantial part of the agenda. Employees have complained about irregularities in promotion procedures, delays in resolving departmental cases, and inadequate addressal of workplace concerns raised in previous negotiations. Union officials have stated that the extended three-day duration reflects the seriousness with which they view these unresolved issues.
Bank management, meanwhile, has asked customers to use online banking platforms, mobile apps, and ATMs to minimise inconvenience during the strike period. Officials note that core banking services and electronic fund transfers should continue operating normally. Retail depositors and businesses relying on physical branch visits may face closures for all three days unless banks deploy skeleton staff to certain locations.
Union leaders have warned that if their demands are not addressed constructively in post-strike talks, the action could escalate further, potentially prompting additional rounds of strikes across both institutions. The dispute underscores the ongoing tension between public sector bank employee unions and management over job security and employment conditions in an era of increasing automation and restructuring.
