Bank strike Sept 28–30: Tamil Nadu Left parties back 10 lakh employees' walkout
Synopsis
Over 10 lakh bank employees are set to walk off the job from 28 to 30 September — with an indefinite strike looming from 26 October if talks don't happen. Tamil Nadu's Left parties are backing the action, alleging the Centre has ignored demands for a five-day week and defined pensions since at least March 2025, while reportedly threatening workers not to strike.
Key Takeaways
CPM and CPI in Tamil Nadu have formally backed the nationwide bank strike scheduled from 28 to 30 September .
More than 10 lakh bank employees and officers are expected to participate in the three-day walkout.
A one-day strike on 11 September failed to bring the Centre or bank management to the table, according to CPM state secretary P.
Key demands include a five-day working week , filling of vacant posts, regularisation of temporary workers, defined pension benefits, and an end to outsourcing.
A joint memorandum on the five-day week was submitted to the Centre in March 2025 ; no decision has been taken.
An indefinite strike has been announced from 26 October if the dispute remains unresolved.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Tamil Nadu have extended their formal support to a nationwide three-day bank strike by more than 10 lakh bank employees and officers, scheduled from 28 to 30 September. Both Left parties have urged the Union government to open negotiations with the employees' federation before the stoppage begins.
Background: Why the Strike Was Called
The three-day walkout follows a one-day strike on 11 September, which, according to CPM Tamil Nadu state secretary P. Shanmugam, failed to bring either the Centre or bank management to the negotiating table. Shanmugam urged the government to act urgently, warning that an indefinite strike has also been announced from 26 October if demands remain unresolved.
This comes amid a broader standoff between banking sector unions and the Centre over long-pending demands that have reportedly gone unaddressed for years. The All India Bank Employees and Officers Federation is spearheading the agitation.
Key Demands of Bank Employees
Among the central demands is the introduction of a five-day working week. Bank management and the employees' federation jointly submitted a memorandum on this issue to the Centre in March 2025, but the government has yet to take a decision on it. Other demands include:
— Filling of vacant posts across banks
— Regularisation of temporary and contractual workers
— An end to outsourcing practices
— Introduction of defined pension benefits
— Removal of what the federation describes as discrimination tied to performance-based incentives
Allegations of Pressure on Employees
Shanmugam also alleged that employees and officers were being threatened to discourage participation in the strike. 'The Centre must stop applying pressure and begin negotiations aimed at a settlement,' he said. CPI Tamil Nadu state secretary M. Veerapandian separately echoed this concern, urging the Centre to abandon what he called a 'threatening approach' and engage directly with the federation.
What Happens Next
Both Left leaders have called on the Centre to resolve the dispute before the 28–30 September stoppage. Should the three-day strike proceed without a settlement, the banking sector faces the prospect of an indefinite cessation of work from 26 October, which could significantly disrupt financial services across the country. With crores of customers dependent on branch-based banking, the pressure on the Centre to act is mounting.
Point of View
With a far more disruptive indefinite walkout queued for October 26. The Centre's silence since March 2025 on even the joint five-day-week memorandum, co-signed by bank management itself, is a notable policy failure. When management and employees agree on a demand and the government still does not respond, it signals either deliberate delay or institutional inertia. The Left's involvement in Tamil Nadu adds political weight, but the real pressure point is the indefinite strike threat, which, if it materialises, would test the Centre's resolve far more than a three-day stoppage ever could.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are bank employees going on strike from September 28 to 30?
More than 10 lakh bank employees and officers are striking from 28 to 30 September to press long-pending demands, including a five-day working week, filling of vacant posts, regularisation of temporary workers, defined pension benefits, and an end to outsourcing. A previous one-day strike on 11 September failed to prompt talks with the Centre or bank management.
Which organisations are supporting the bank strike in Tamil Nadu?
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India in Tamil Nadu have extended formal support to the strike. CPM state secretary P. Shanmugam and CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian both urged the Centre to begin negotiations before the walkout starts.
What is the demand for a five-day working week in banks?
Bank employees and officers are seeking a reduction from a six-day to a five-day working week. Bank management and the All India Bank Employees and Officers Federation jointly submitted a memorandum to the Centre on this issue in March 2025, but the government has not yet announced a decision.
What happens if the September 28–30 strike does not lead to a settlement?
If the Centre does not engage with the federation following the three-day strike, an indefinite strike has been announced from 26 October. This could lead to prolonged disruption of banking services across India, affecting crores of customers who rely on branch banking.
Have bank employees alleged any pressure from management ahead of the strike?
Yes. CPM state secretary P. Shanmugam alleged that employees and officers were being threatened to discourage them from joining the strike. CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian similarly urged the Centre to drop what he called a 'threatening approach' and hold constructive talks with the federation.
