Bank Strike Alert: Finance Ministry Urges Unions To Call Off September 28-30 Walkout
The Finance Ministry urged public sector and regional rural bank unions to cancel their September 28-30 strike, noting the PLI scheme is now in abeyance. Warning of disruptions during September 30 half-yearly closings, authorities stressed ongoing dialogue over the remaining five-day workweek demand.
The Indian government has appealed to public sector and regional rural bank employees to cancel their planned three-day bank strike from September 28 to 30, citing the suspension of the Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
Union Demands and Government Response
The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) and participating labour groups organised the industrial action over two primary grievances: implementation of a five-day workweek and opposition to the PLI scheme. Bank Strike Alert: Branches Closed 5 Days From September 26 to 30; Know What Stays Open.
In a statement, the Finance Ministry noted that the government has placed the PLI scheme in abeyance following consultations, satisfying a core union demand while keeping discussions active on the remaining five-day week proposal: "Given that most concerns of the Unions have been substantially addressed, that the remaining demand continues to be examined, and that the government continues to proactively introduce welfare measures for the banking workforce, bank employees are urged to refrain from resorting to strikes, work towards resolving issues through dialogue, and ensure that banking services remain uninterrupted".
Operational Impact and Half-Yearly Closing
The proposed September 28–30 walkout coincides with the critical half-yearly financial closing on September 30. Combined with preceding weekend closures, the action would create a five-day disruption affecting reconciliation, provisioning, treasury flows, and government transactions. The Finance Ministry emphasised that public sector banks currently maintain a robust financial standing, warning that work stoppages undermine institutional stability and public service continuity. Union Bank Issues Advisory Ahead of 3-Day Bank Strike by UFBU.
Escalation Timeline and Outlook
After a one-day strike on September 11, unions proceeded with the late-September notice and signalled an indefinite strike starting October 26 if the five-day workweek demand remains unresolved. Bilateral conciliation talks remain ongoing as authorities press for dialogue over operational disruptions.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 07:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
