Bank Strike Update: Are PSU, private, and rural banks open or closed today, March 25?

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which represents over 800,000 bank employees from nine unions, had planned a two-day nationwide strike on March 24-25 to push for banking sector reforms. However, after talks with the Chief Labour Commissioner and the Indian Banks' Association (IBA), the unions decided to suspend the strike on March 22, according to PTI.

During the discussions, officials from the finance ministry and IBA assured union representatives that their key demands—such as a five-day workweek and more recruitment—would be taken seriously. The Chief Labour Commissioner also stepped in, promising to personally track the progress of these issues. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for April 22 to review the developments.

Also Read: Bank Strike Update: Are banks open or closed today, March 24? Here’s all you need to know

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Are banks operating normally today?

Yes, all banks are operating as usual today (Tuesday) since the strike was called off. There is no bank holiday listed under the RBI’s Negotiable Instruments Act, so branches are open without disruption.

What are UFBU’s key demands?

• Public sector banks are being urged by unions to adopt a five-day workweek.
• They are pushing for new staff at all levels, from clerks to senior officers, to fill shortages.
• The demand for more robust measures to safeguard bank employees from attacks is being raised by unions.
• National Pension System (NPS) improvements are being demanded by all banks.
• Employees strive to achieve better work-life balance by identifying strategies that can help them reduce workload and stress.

Also Read: UCO Bank underperforms Nifty PSU Bank on launching Rs 2,000 crore QIP

Unions oppose new performance review and PLI policies

Bank unions are also raising concerns over the latest performance review and Performance Linked Incentive (PLI) rules introduced by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) as they believe that these policies could threaten job security and disrupt workplace stability.

Upcoming bank holiday in March 2025

Banks will be closed on March 31 for Ramzan-Id (Eid-Ul-Fitr) in many cities, including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.