Banking transactions are likely to be affected on Friday, as nearly five lakh class 3 and class 4 employees of the banking industry will strike work to protest unilateralism of the State Bank of India (SBI) management.

Employees of 25 public sector banks, 12 private sector banks and eight foreign banks are likely to be part of the strike. However, SBI will not be a part of the strike. But since banks will be shut on January 9 (second Saturday), and January 10 (Sunday), account holders are likely to face problems.

“The conciliation between the All India Bank Employees Federation (AIBEA) and people concerned regarding the merger of five banks into SBI failed twice, due to which we are going on strike,” AIBEA General Secretary Vishwas Utagi said.

Minimise the impact

“We are also protesting against the career probation scheme by SBI and the unilateralism of the bank,” Utagi said, adding that the United Forum of Bank Unions will be supporting the strike.

Meanwhile, banks are taking all efforts to try and minimise the impact of the strike. United Bank has said that it will take all required steps to ensure smooth functioning of its branches on the strike day.