Banking services will be affected today and tomorrow i.e. Monday and Tuesday. The Joint Forum of Central Trade Unions has called for a two-day nationwide strike in protest of the central government's policies. Strikes can disrupt work such as loan clearances and cheque clearing. Workers in other sectors, including roadways, transport, electricity, telecom, postal, income tax and insurance, will also join the strike.
Several state-owned banks, including the country's largest bank SBI, have said the strike could affect their services to some extent. However, banks have made necessary arrangements at their branches and offices to alleviate the distress of the people. Online banking will also be available during the strike. This will allow you to make money transactions online. However, there may be a scarcity of cash at ATMs.
General Secretary of All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) CH Venkatachalam has demanded from the central government to stop and strengthen the privatization of public sector banks, speedy recovery of bad debts, higher deposit rates, restoration of the old pension scheme, lower service charges on customers. The nationwide strike also involved private banks, foreign banks, cooperative banks and regional rural banks.
The central trade unions said that the strike was against the government's anti-people economic policies and anti-labour policies. The union's demands include abolishing the Labour Code, not privatizing it in any way, abolishing the National Monetary Pipeline (NMP), raising wages under MGNREGA and regularizing contract workers.
AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU, TUCC, AIUTUC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC are part of the joint forum. Meanwhile, the Union Energy Ministry has asked all agencies to remain on high alert and ensure a 24-hour power supply during the strike.
