Banking services likely to be affected on July 9 as unions join nationwide strike
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Banking operations across the country may experience disruptions on July 9, as major bank unions prepare to participate in a nationwide general strike.
According to a regulatory filing by Bank of Baroda, services at branches and offices could be impacted despite efforts to maintain normalcy.
The strike call was issued by the general secretaries of three prominent bank unions - the All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI).
These unions have officially notified the Indian Banks’ Association of their decision to take part in the protest.
The strike is part of a larger “Bharat Bandh” organised by a collective of 10 central trade unions. The mobilisation aims to draw support from an estimated 25 crore workers across various sectors, including banking, insurance, postal services, and public sector enterprises.
Union leaders are raising concerns over what they consider the government's "pro-corporate policies," the implementation of new labour laws, and ongoing efforts to privatise public sector organisations. One of their central demands is for the government to take immediate action to combat rising unemployment.
The unions are urging the government to fill vacant positions across departments, expand job opportunities, increase wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and introduce a similar scheme for urban workers. They have also criticised the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) scheme, claiming it favours employers while doing little to address workers’ concerns.
Originally planned for May, the strike was deferred due to national-level developments. It is now expected to involve widespread participation from employees across banks, insurance firms, and other public sector undertakings.