Banking services in Guwahati were disrupted on January 27 as bank employees joined a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), demanding the introduction of a five-day work week in the banking sector.
Several bank branches across the city remained closed, with employees staging protests outside their offices, holding banners and raising slogans to highlight the long-pending demand.
Guwahati witnessed disruption in banking services on January 27 as employees joined a nationwide UFBU strike demanding a five-day work week. Public sector and regional rural banks remained closed, with staff protesting outside branches and urging parity with other sectors.
Banks Affected in the City
Banks affiliated with the UFBU, including Assam Gramin Bank and State Bank of India, participated in the strike in Guwahati. Protest sites were seen near major commercial areas, affecting routine branch-level services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance, and customer assistance.
ATMs and digital banking services, however, remained operational in most parts of the city.
What the Unions Are Demanding
Union leaders said the demand for a five-day work week has been pending for several years. Under the 10th Bipartite Settlement between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and bank unions, only the second and fourth Saturdays of each month are holidays, while the remaining Saturdays are treated as full working days.
The UFBU argues that a five-day work structure would bring banking in line with other sectors and significantly improve work-life balance for employees.
Who Is Part of UFBU
The UFBU is a collective of nine major bank employee unions, including:
- All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA)
- All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC)
- National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE)
- All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA)
- Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI)
- Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF)
- Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC)
- National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW)
- National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO)
Together, these unions represent lakhs of bank employees across public sector, private, regional rural, and cooperative banks.
Why This Matters for Guwahati
As Assam’s primary financial and commercial hub, Guwahati hosts the highest concentration of bank branches in the state. Even a one-day strike has a direct impact on traders, small businesses, salaried employees, and customers who depend on branch-based banking services.
What Happens Next
Union leaders said further agitation cannot be ruled out if talks with banking authorities and the government fail to make progress. Customers in Guwahati have been advised to rely on digital banking platforms and plan branch visits once normal operations resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Banks were affected due to a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions demanding a five-day work week.
No, digital banking and ATM services largely remained operational during the strike.
