Bank strike March 2025: Unions postpone 2-day nationwide hartal after assurance

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organization of nine bank employees' associations, had given a call for a strike on March 24 and March 25.

The decision to postpone the strike was taken before the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) who had called all parties for a conciliation meeting in New Delhi.

The UFBU had also sought the withdrawal of the Department of Financial Services' (DFS') recent directives on performance review and performance-linked incentives (PLI). The union claimed that it could threaten job security and create division among employees.

"IBA proposed to further discuss issues like recruitment and PLI and other issues," C. H. Venkatachalam, general secretary of the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), said, adding, "The Chief Labour Commissioner informed that he will directly monitor the issues, including the implementation of five days of banking."

UFBU comprises AIBEA, National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), Bank Employees' Confederation of India (BEFI), and All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA).

The next date of hearing is set as April 22 by the Chief Labour Commissioner. It has asked IBA to present the progress report on UFBU's demands.

Unions also called for the resolution of pending issues with the IBA and amendments to the Gratuity Act, demanding an increase in the ceiling to ₹25 lakh, similar to that of government employees, along with an exemption from income tax.