Jammu, Dec 24:
Thousands of bank employees across Jammu and Kashmir joined a massive nationwide wave of protests today, demanding the immediate implementation of a 5-day work week and voicing strong opposition to the central government’s recent policy shifts in the financial sector.
The demonstrations, held under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), saw employees from major public sector banks, including SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, and Bank of Baroda, hitting the streets in a unified show of strength.
The primary flashpoint of today’s protest is the long-pending demand for a 5-day working week. Union leaders pointed out that while digital banking is now available 24/7 and most government and corporate sectors already follow a 5-day schedule, the banking industry remains one of the few still operating on a 6-day cycle for most weeks. “A 5-day week is not just a luxury; it is essential for the mental well-being and productivity of bank employees who are currently working under immense pressure,” stated Mr. Rajesh Mehta, UT Secretary for AIBOC (Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh), who led the protests in Jammu.
Beyond the work-week schedule, the UFBU has highlighted a series of “welfare-threatening” policies they are urging the government to scrap: Strong opposition to Privatization and FDI in banking/insurance, Demand for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) and abolition of NPS, Opposing the appointment of Private Sector MDs/EDs in Public Sector Banks, Demand for Uniform PLI (Performance Linked Incentive) for all staff and Opposing the “unilateral intervention” of the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
Today’s protest in Jammu is part of a calculated escalation strategy by bank unions. If the government fails to address these concerns, the agitation is set to culminate in a proposed All India Strike in the third week of January 2026.
“This is the beginning of a broader struggle,” a UFBU spokesperson remarked. “The lakhs of employees who participated in today’s state capital demonstrations are a clear signal that the banking community is ready to intensify its actions.”
While today’s demonstrations did not halt banking services, the proposed strike in January 2026 could lead to a complete shutdown of banking operations across the country.
