Government banks across the country are going to go on strike on 12th February.
Major bank organizations like All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) have called on their units and members to join the nationwide strike along with 10 central trade unions (CTUs) on February 12, 2026. The strike call is in protest against the four new labor codes notified by the government in November and the ‘increasing attacks on the working class’.
AIBOA general secretary S Nagarajan said in an ET report that his organization is extending its support to the CTU strike on February 12, 2026. He has also called upon the bank officials not to do clerical work on the day of the strike. In the letter written by the General Secretaries of AIBEA, AIBOA and BFI, dated January 28, 2026, and addressed to the members and units of the banks, several issues have been highlighted as reasons for joining the nationwide general strike to be held on February 12, 2026. Let us also tell you what issues the bank is going to raise.
protest against labor laws
In a letter written by the bank bodies to their units and employees, it has been said that the proposed labor laws to be implemented are completely against the workers and stringent conditions have been set for the registration of trade unions. It is further written in the letter that not only this, the owner of an establishment with less than 300 employees can dismiss any employee without the consent of the authorities. This step of the government is to support MNCs as well as owners of small factories/establishments in the name of ease of doing business.
5-day work week for bank employees
The letter claims that when bank unions are struggling for work life balance and demanding five days of banking work a week, the government is proposing to give employers the right to increase working hours. Nagarajan says all major financial organizations like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), currency exchange centres, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), stock exchanges and the Multi Commodity Exchange of India have a five-day work week, but only bank employees work six days on alternate weeks. We want the government to provide a five-day work week for bank employees also.
fixed term employment
Bank bodies say that in view of the high unemployment rate in India, the government has proposed a fixed-term employment scheme instead of creating employment for the youth, which is putting the future of the youth at risk. The letter said that while it has become difficult for employee unions to go on strike, employers are being given the freedom to impose lockouts and layoffs without the permission of labor authorities.