Operations at all the public sector banks (PSBs) and regional rural banks are likely to be affected for two days from January 20 as the United Forum of Banks Unions (UFBU) has given a strike call, demanding wage revision as well as the resolution of certain other issues.

UFBU national convener M V Murali on Sunday said the Centre and the Indian Banks Association have failed to settle the 14-month long pending demand of 32 per cent wage revision for about a million strong staff in the banking sector.

He also urged the government to immediately halt the ongoing reforms in the banking sector, as it would pave way for the entry of a large number of foreign banks.

The foreign and Indian private corporate sector banks would not serve the needs of the common man in any manner, Murali said.

The wage revision of PSB employees has been due since November 2012. UFBU is an umbrella organisation of nine bank employees and officers unions. There are 27 PSBs in the country with employees strength of about 0.8 million. There are about 50,000 branches of these banks across the country. (Business Standard)