Bank Strike Halts Services in Vizianagaram Until September 15
Bank branches in Vizianagaram shut as employees strike over the five-day work week demand and performance-linked incentives for all staff.
Banking services in Vizianagaram have come to a standstill, with branches closed and operations suspended until September 15 as employees across all cadres join a strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions.
On the opening day of the agitation, staff members marched from the Ananda Gajapathi auditorium to Fort Junction, turning the route into a show of collective strength. The procession drew employees from every level of the banking hierarchy, underscoring the breadth of participation in the protest.
The coordination committee of the unions said bank managements have failed to respond to the long-standing demand for a five-day work week, which remains the central grievance driving the strike. According to the committee, repeated representations on the issue have gone unheeded, leaving employees with no option but to escalate their action.
Alongside the work-week demand, the unions are pressing for performance-linked incentives to be extended to all staff rather than being confined to a section of employees. The committee argued that the current arrangement leaves a large part of the workforce outside the incentive framework despite their contribution to the sector's functioning.
With the strike set to continue until September 15, customers in Vizianagaram and surrounding areas face a prolonged disruption to routine banking services, including deposits, withdrawals and other counter operations. The standoff shows no sign of an early resolution, as neither side has indicated a move toward talks.