Bank Unions Announce Nationwide Strike on February 12, 2026, Threatening Service Disruptions
Bank of Baroda (BoB) has officially notified the stock exchanges about a potential nationwide banking strike scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026. The alert comes in response to a joint call for industrial action by several prominent bank unions, raising concerns about possible disruptions to banking services across the country.
Which Unions Are Involved and What Does This Mean for Customers?
According to the regulatory filing, the strike has been called by a coalition of major banking unions, including the All India Bank Employee’s Association (AIBEA), the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). These organizations represent a significant portion of the workforce in public sector banks.
BoB stated that it is "taking all the necessary steps for smooth functioning of Bank’s branches and offices on the day of strike". However, the filing cautioned that if the strike proceeds as planned, the "functioning of the branches and offices may be affected". This indicates that while the bank is preparing contingency measures, customers should anticipate possible delays or limited services at affected branches.
Will Banks Be Closed on February 12, 2026?
At this stage, it is crucial to clarify that no official bank holiday has been declared for February 12, 2026. Neither the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) nor any major banking institution has announced a closure. Until an official declaration is made, banks are expected to operate normally on that date.
Importantly, private sector banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Axis Bank are likely to remain open as usual. This is because their employees are not part of the unions calling for the strike, meaning services at these institutions should continue uninterrupted.
Primary Reasons Behind the Strike Call
The decision to strike stems from two key issues that have been brewing within the banking sector:
- Opposition to New Labour Codes: The unions are protesting against the four new Labour Codes notified by the central government in November. These codes aim to consolidate 29 existing labour laws, but union leaders describe them as "increasing attacks on the working class." This movement has garnered support from over 10 Central Trade Unions (CTUs) nationwide.
- Demand for a Five-Day Work Week: A longstanding demand from bank unions is the implementation of a five-day work week. Currently, banks are closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The unions are pushing for all Saturdays to be declared holidays, a provision that was reportedly agreed upon during the 12th Bipartite Settlement signed with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) in March 2024 but is still awaiting formal government notification.
Context and Recent Precedents
This strike call continues a pattern of industrial action within the banking sector. Just last month, on January 27, 2026, operations at public sector lenders including the State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab National Bank were disrupted when the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU)—an umbrella body of nine unions—observed a nationwide strike. That action followed a series of national holidays from January 24 to 26 for the fourth Saturday, Sunday, and Republic Day, respectively.
The upcoming strike on February 12, 2026, therefore represents an escalation of ongoing negotiations and disputes between bank unions and the government regarding working conditions and labour reforms.
Customers are advised to stay updated through official bank communications and plan their financial transactions accordingly to mitigate any potential inconvenience caused by the strike.
