Chennai, Jan 15 (IANS): Protesting against the Indian Banks Association's (IBA) rigid approach in the wage revision negotiations, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has decided to go on strike on January 31, February 1 and March 11, 12 and 13, according to a top All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) leader.

Interestingly, the bankers have called strike on the day when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be presenting her second budget.

In a statement AIBEA General Secretary C.H. Venkatachalam said the IBA had adopted a rigid approach in resolving the wage revision demands during the bipartite talks on January 13.

He said the UFBU, an umbrella body of nine unions in the banking sector, met after that and decided to go on a two-day strike, starting January 31, followed by three-day strike, starting March 11, and an indefinite strike from April 1 to highlight the demands and express our protest.

"We are sure all our unions would understand the seriousness of the situation given the government policies towards labour and take all-out steps to implement the programmes," he said.