India, Jan. 24 -- Bank staff unions have given a notice for a nationwide strike on January 27 to press for a long-pending demand for a five-day work week. If the strike does indeed proceed, it will disrupt public sector banking operations for three consecutive days, with January 25 and 26 being holidays already.

Most public sector banks said they have alerted their customers about the disruption in services if the strike materialises.

In response to the notice served by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), the Chief Labour Commissioner held conciliation meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. But the UFBU, an umbrella organisation of nine unions of officers and employees, was so far planning to go ahead, as of Saturday evening.

"Despite...