Bank bodies set to join nationwide strike on February 12, 2026: Why they are supporting trade unions opposing Labour Laws

Leading bank bodies such as All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) have called their units and members to join the nationwide general strike along with 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) on February 12, 2026. The call to join the strike is to oppose four new Labour Codes that were notified by the government in November to replace existing 29 labour laws and also to oppose ‘increasing attacks on the working class.

S Nagarajan, general secretary, AIBOA, told ET Wealth Online that his organisation is extending fraternal support to the CTU strike on February 12, 2026. He also calls upon the bank officers not to do the clerical work on the day of strike.



In a letter dated January 28, 2026, written by general secretaries of AIBEA, AIBOA and BFI and addressed to members and units of banks, several issues have been highlighted as reasons to join the nationwide general strike on February 12, 2026. Some of the issues that these bank bodies have raised in their letter are as follows-

Opposing labour laws

According to the bank bodies’ letter to its units and employees, “The labour codes proposed to be implemented are totally against the workers and stringent conditions have been prescribed to register trade unions.”
The letter further reads, “More than that, the owner who is employing less than 300 workers in his concern, can terminate an employee, without seeking the concurrence from the authorities. The move of the government is to support multinational companies as well as owners of small factories/establishments under the name of ‘Ease of Doing Business’.”

5-day work week for bank employees

The letter claims, when bank associations have been fighting for work-life-balance and demanding five days of banking in a week, the government is proposing to empower employers to increase working hours.
“In all major financial organisations such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), money exchange, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), share market and the Multi COmmodity Exchange of India, it is a five-day work week, but only bank employees work for six days in alternate weeks. We want the government to provide a five-day work week for bank employees as well,” says Nagarajan.

Fixed-term employment

Bank bodies write that with a high unemployment rate in India, instead of generating more jobs for the youth, the government has proposed the fixed-term employment scheme that jeopardises the future of the youth.

Freedom to hold strike

The letter says while it has become difficult for employee unions to hold strikes, the employer is being given freedom to lock-out and retrench without the permission of the labour authorities.