Ahmedabad: Banking services across Gujarat were disrupted on Friday as nearly 75,000 bank employees and officers participated in a nationwide one-day strike demanding the implementation of a five-day work week. According to the Mahagujarat Bank Employees’ Association, around 5,400 bank branches remained shut across the state, affecting transactions estimated at Rs 15,000 crore.The strike saw participation from seven bank unions: AIBEA, AIBOC, NCBE, BEFI, INBOC, INBEF, and AIBOA. The unions are pressing govt to implement an agreement reached with the Indian Banks’ Association and bank managements in March 2024, under which all Saturdays were to be declared holidays while daily working hours from Monday to Friday were to be extended by 40 minutes.The proposal was subsequently sent to the finance ministry for approval. However, union leaders said it has remained pending for more than two years. They argued that declaring all Saturdays as holidays would not reduce customer service hours, as the additional 40 minutes on weekdays would offset the change.The unions also cited rising work pressure and the need for a better work-life balance as key reasons behind the demand. At present, bank employees work full days from Monday to Friday, while only two Saturdays each month are observed as holidays.The strike is part of a wider protest programme announced by bank employees. The unions have planned a three-day strike from Sep 28 to 30 and warned of an indefinite strike from Oct 26 if govt fails to act on their demand.
