Bhubaneswar: Banking services were disrupted across Odisha on Friday as employees and officers of public sector banks joined a nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), demanding five-day workweek and resolution of pending wage and pension-related issues.
According to reports received from different places, the strike affected operations at several branches of public sector banks across the state, with many branches remaining closed or operating with limited staff. Customers faced difficulties in cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearance and other services.
The UFBU, an umbrella body of seven bank unions representing around 90 per cent of bank officers and employees, has called the strike across the country. Private sector banks were largely unaffected by the agitation.
The unions are demanding that all Saturdays be declared holidays for bank employees. The demand was reportedly agreed upon in the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed between the unions and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in March 2024. However, the agreement is yet to be formally notified by the government.
At present, banks remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of every month.
This apart, the unions have also raised several pending issues concerning pensioners and employees. These include the updation and improvement of pensions, implementation of a uniform dearness allowance formula for all pensioners, and allowing employees covered under the National Pension System (NPS) to opt for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
While the strike affected physical banking operations, customers continued to access digital services. UPI transactions, internet banking and other online banking facilities remained operational, sources said.