India, Jan. 26 -- Bank employee unions have called a nationwide strike for January 27 to press a long-pending demand for a five-day workweek. The strike was announced on January 23, and if it goes as planned, it would be a major disruption to public sector banking.

Most public sector banks have already informed their customers about disruptions to banking services if the strike materialises.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine unions of officers and employees, said in a statement that it is going ahead with the strike as its meetings with the chief labour commissioner held on Wednesday and Thursday bore no results.

The UFBU is an umbrella organisation of nine major bank unions in India, representing...