Banking services in Guwahati were affected on Monday, 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 public sector and regional rural banks in the city remained closed, with employees staging protests outside branch premises, holding banners and raising slogans in support of their long-pending demand.
Banking services in Guwahati were disrupted on January 27 as employees joined a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions. The protest seeks the introduction of a five-day work week for banks, affecting operations at major public sector and regional rural banks.
Banks Affected in Guwahati
In Guwahati, banks affiliated with the UFBU, including Assam Gramin Vikas Bank and State Bank of India, participated in the strike. Visuals from several locations across the city showed bank employees sitting in protest outside closed branches, drawing attention from commuters and customers.
While ATMs remained operational in most areas, branch-level services such as cash transactions, cheque clearance, and customer support were impacted.
What the Unions Are Demanding
The UFBU stated that it has been demanding a five-day work week for banks for several years, citing parity with other sectors and the need to improve work-life balance for employees.
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 instead of half-days. Union leaders argue that this arrangement falls short of a true five-day work structure.
Who Is Part of UFBU
The UFBU comprises nine major bank employee organisations, 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 banks, private banks, regional rural banks, and cooperative banks.
Why This Matters for Guwahati
As Assam’s commercial and financial hub, Guwahati houses the highest concentration of bank branches in the state. Any disruption to banking services directly affects businesses, traders, salaried employees, and daily customers who rely on branch-level transactions.
What Happens Next
Union leaders said further agitation could follow if discussions with the government and banking authorities do not yield results. Bank customers in Guwahati have been advised to rely on digital banking services during the strike period and to plan branch visits accordingly once normal operations resume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why were banks closed in Guwahati on January 27?
Banks were affected due to a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions demanding a five-day work week.
Q2. Were all banking services suspended during the strike?
Branch-level services were disrupted, but customers were advised to use digital banking and ATMs where available.
