Bank unions have called for a two-day strike on March 15 (Monday) and March 16 (Tuesday) to protest the privatization of banks. While the previous two days March 13 is a second Saturday and March 14 is a Sunday, banks will be closed for four consecutive days from March 13 in the wake of the bank employees’ strike.
Bank branches will not be open for 11 days during the entire month of March, including festive holidays, bank account closures, second Saturdays and 4 Sundays.
The holiday was announced on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on March 11. Banks have declared a holiday for Bihar Day on March 22 and Holi on March 30. Banks have advised clients to plan for their financial transactions as they are closing banks with consecutive holidays.
All India Bank Employees’ Association (AIBEA), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA), Indian National Bank Employees’ Federation Federation of Canara Bank Employees’ Congress (INBEF), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Officers’ Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW), All India Nationalised Bank Officers’ Federation Canara Bank Officers’ Association (Regd.) (AINBOF) are among the bank unions that have called for a strike against the privatization of two state-owned banks by the government.