Bank unions announce September 11 strike over 5-day week, PLI, pension demands

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella body representing nine major bank employee and officer unions, has announced a nationwide strike on September 11 to press for the long-pending implementation of a five-day banking week, changes to the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, and the resolution of pension-related demands. The one-day action is the first in a series of planned agitations, which includes a three-day strike from September 28 to 30 and a warning of an indefinite strike from October 26 if their demands remain unresolved. The central demand is the implementation of a five-day work week, with banks closed on all Saturdays.