KARIMNAGAR, JANUARY 27, 2026: Raising the long-pending issues, several hundred bank employees under the banner of United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) held a massive rally in front of the Union Bank of India (UBI) at the RTC bus station complex in Karimnagar town on Tuesday as part of the all-India bank strike seeking the immediate implementation of a five-day banking week.
The employees strongly asserted that the five-day work week has already been agreed upon in the Bipartite Settlement, yet continues to remain unimplemented. They alleged discrimination against bank employees, as most other government departments across the country already operate on a five-day workweek.
Apart from the demand for five-day banking, the protest highlighted serious concerns over the privatisation and disinvestment of public sector banks, increased foreign investment in the insurance sector, and the proposed amendments to labour laws, which the unions said threaten workers’ rights and job security.
A major issue raised during the rally was the acute shortage of bank staff, leading to excessive workloads, increased employee mental stress, and a deterioration in customer service. The unions demanded immediate, large-scale recruitment to ensure smooth banking operations and better public service.
Earlier, the employees of Karimnagar DCCB associated with the TCCBEA staged a dharna on the main office premises demanding the implementation of a five-day work week and other issues. Later, they came in a procession from the main branch to the UBI bus station complex and participated in the rally.
UFBU secretary Damodar V, Nikhil Ch and Pochaiah (SBI), Nagesh (CBI), Srinivas Reddy and Venkatesh Ch (AIBOC), Praveen (TCCBEA) state secretary, district president G Hanumantha Rao and secretary Raju and others participated in the programme.
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