Bank strike paralyzes Vizianagaram branches through mid-September

Banking operations ground to a halt in Vizianagaram on Tuesday as employees across all cadres marched from the Ananda Gajapathi auditorium to Fort Junction in a show of unified protest. The strike, jointly coordinated by the United Forum of Bank Unions, effectively shut branch operations across the district, leaving customers unable to access regular banking services.

The industrial action was triggered after management failed to address staff demands over a five-day period, according to the coordination committee overseeing the protest. A core grievance centers on the scope of performance-linked incentive schemes, with unionized employees demanding that such benefits be extended uniformly across all staff categories rather than remaining restricted to select groups.

Branch closures are expected to persist until September 15, disrupting routine banking transactions including deposits, withdrawals, and other financial services for the public. The strike represents the latest escalation in disputes between banking sector unions and management over compensation and benefits structure.

The coordination committee has signaled that operations will only resume once management commits to addressing the workers' demands regarding equitable distribution of performance-linked incentives. Bank officials have not yet issued statements responding to the strike action or outlining a timeline for resolution.