Bank Trade Unions Gear Up for Nationwide Strike on Wednesday

New Delhi – Millions of bank employees across India are expected to participate in a nationwide strike on Wednesday, as announced by a coalition of central trade unions. The strike, backed by 10 major unions, could significantly disrupt essential services in banking, insurance, coal mining, postal services, construction, and regional transport across multiple states.

Bank of Baroda, in a filing to the stock exchange, cautioned that its banking services nationwide might be impacted due to the participation of major unions in the general strike.

The strike has been called by several central trade unions, including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Trade Union Coordination Centre (TUCC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).

Leaders of key banking unions — the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) — have also formally notified the Indian Banks’ Association of their intent to join the strike on July 9.

The unions are protesting against what they describe as the government’s pro-corporate policies, recent labour law reforms, and the ongoing privatization of public sector enterprises. Their demands include filling vacant sanctioned posts, creating more job opportunities, increasing the number of MNREGA workdays, and enhancing wage increments.

Originally planned for May, the strike was deferred due to national-level events. In a joint statement, the union forum urged workers to make the strike a “grand success.” The forum also noted that it had previously submitted a 17-point charter of demands to Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

With inputs from IANS