JAMMU DEC 31: United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) staged demonstrations outside bank offices in Jammu, Srinagar, and Leh on December 30, demanding a full five-day work week to alleviate workload stress.
Unions, led by All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC) Secretary Rajesh Mehta, highlighted prolonged delays despite 2015 agreements on partial Saturday holidays, citing staff shortages and mental strain amid rising operations. JPBEF General Secretary Arun Kumar Gupta urged the Centre to honor commitments, halt privatization, and secure RBI approval for uniform weekends.
UFBU emphasized the demand’s reasonableness for employee welfare and sector efficiency, warning of further action without resolution after two years of inaction. Protesters included Tara Singh, Aroor Bhanu Khajuria, and others from affiliated groups
