Lucknow: Bank employees demonstrated strongly on Thursday evening on the call of United Forum of Bank Unions regarding several pending demands including implementation of five-day working week in banks. The demonstration was held near the Bank of India and Indian Bank zonal office on Radha Rani Singh Road at around 5:45 pm. After this, a staff meeting was also held.

The event was organized under the all India movement of the United Forum of Bank Unions. Preparations for the proposed three-day nationwide bank strike on 28, 29 and 30 September 2026 were discussed in the meeting. The union members resolved to make the strike successful.

150 bank employees gathered despite the rain

Despite the rain, about 150 bank employees participated in the demonstration. There were also about 25 women employees among them. The protesters raised slogans regarding their demands. The meeting was addressed by other leaders including Manish Kumar, Gunjesh Kumar, Ahmed and Navneet Kumar.

Convener Arvind Kumar Rama called upon the employees to make the three-day strike a success with full force.

Demand for 5-Day Work Week and OPS

Union leaders said that their main demand is to soon implement the five-day work week in banks. According to the leaders, despite the consent of the Indian Banks Association (IBA), this proposal is pending at the Government of India level for about two and a half years.

Apart from this, a demand was also raised to quickly resolve the pending issues to the 12th bilateral agreement. The major demands of the union include adequate new recruitments in banks, restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), pension updation and DA merger.

Important alerts for customers

In view of the three-day strike, banks are alerting customers through SMS. Customers are being appealed to complete the important banking work by visiting the branch by 25th September, so that they do not face any problem due to the branches being closed from 28th to 30th September.

Digital services including ATM-UPI will continue

It is said that digital banking services will remain operational during the strike of bank employees. ATM, mobile banking, internet banking, UPI and Bank Mitra (BC) services will continue.

However, counter banking operations in branches will remain affected. In such a situation, customers have been advised to complete the necessary cash withdrawal, deposit or other branch-based operations in advance.