Bank strike for five-day work week disrupts services across Hyderabad

Banking services across Telangana were disrupted as employees joined a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions, pressing for immediate implementation of a five-day work week

Hyderabad: Banking operations in Hyderabad and across Telangana faced significant disruptions on Tuesday, as bank employees and officers joined a massive nationwide strike.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing nine major unions, had called for a strike to pressure the government into immediate implementation of a five-day work week.

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The strike effectively paralysed physical branch services at most public sector banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative institutions, coming on the heels of a long weekend that included Republic Day. While digital platforms and ATMs remained functional, in-person transactions such as cheque clearances, cash deposits, and administrative updates were halted, All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) vice-president Galeti Nageshwar said in a press release on Tuesday.

The central point of contention remains a pending government notification to declare all Saturdays as holidays. Union leaders, including AIBOC VP Galeti Nageshwar, argued that bank employees are being discriminated, pointing out that the RBI , LIC, and various central government offices already operate on a five-day schedule.

To ensure no loss of productivity, the unions have already proposed increasing daily working hours by 40 minutes from Monday to Friday.

According to union representatives, lack of a concrete timeline for the five-day week implementation left them with no choice but to participate in a strike.

While major private sector banks remained unaffected, the operations in public sector banks were affected, Galeti Nageshwar added.