Bank strike: Central govt employees, pensioners and post office staff to get September salary early this month

The move is aimed at ensuring that Central Government employees and pensioners do not face delays if banking operations are affected during the proposed strike.

The arrangement also covers employees of Posts and Telecommunications, while the Department of Posts has separately asked its offices to ensure that salary and pension drawals are submitted to banks by September 25.

Why are banks facing a three-day strike?

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has proposed the three-day nationwide strike from September 28 to 30, with five-day banking among the demands.

The proposed strike also comes at an important time for the banking sector, as September 30 marks the end of the half-yearly period. Banks typically have several closing, reconciliation and other financial activities to complete around this time.

With the possibility of disruption, government departments have been advised to complete important banking transactions in advance wherever possible.

Banks to remain open on Sunday

The move is intended to provide customers with an additional opportunity to complete banking transactions ahead of the three-day strike.

Customers have also been advised by banks to make use of digital services such as UPI, mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs wherever possible during the strike period.

Central Government salary to come early

The Controller General of Accounts, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, issued the instructions on September 23.

Under the arrangement, September salary for Central Government employees can be drawn and disbursed on Friday, September 25.

The order covers Central Government offices, including Defence, Posts and Telecommunications.

The government order says: “the Government has decided that the salary/wages/pensions of all Central Government Employees for the month of September 2026 may be drawn and disbursed by the Central Government offices (including Defence, Posts & Telecommunications) on 25th September 2026 (Friday).”

Post Office employees also covered

For employees under the Department of Posts, the Postal Accounts Division has already circulated the instructions to its offices.

The communication dated September 23 asks the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officers to submit salary and pension drawals to banks by September 25 so that payments can be credited before the proposed strike.

The instruction says the salary and pension drawal should be submitted to the banks “positively by 25.09.2026”, subject to completion of the prescribed payment and banking formalities.

Postal offices have also been asked to plan other banking-related work, including payments, deposits, clearances and cash requirements, in advance wherever possible.

Pensioners to receive September pension early

The early payment arrangement also extends to Central Government pensioners.

Their September pension may be disbursed on September 25, ahead of the proposed strike.

The government order specifically says: “The pension for September, 2026 of all Central Government Pensioners may also be disbursed by Bank/PAOS on 25th September 2026.”

September payment will be treated as advance

The early payment does not mean that September's salary or pension is being increased.

The payment made on September 25 will be treated as an advance payment. Once the full month's salary, wages or pension is determined, any difference, if applicable, will be adjusted.

The government has said that any such adjustment will be made from the October 2026 salary.

Industrial employees can also receive wages early

Central Government industrial employees have also been covered under the arrangement.

Their September wages may be disbursed on September 25, ahead of the proposed bank strike.

Other transactions may be moved forward

Government departments have also been advised to process other payments and banking transactions scheduled towards the end of September in advance wherever feasible.

The aim is to avoid delays during the proposed strike, particularly as it coincides with the closing days of the quarter.