New Delhi: In order to protest against the government’s privatatisation policy, about nine lakh bank employees of 26 public sector banks would go on for a two day nationwide strike beginning today.

Earlier, the bank employees union and chief labour commissioner failed to come to an agreement.

Speaking on this, C.H Venkatachalam, convener, united forum of bank unions’ (UFBU) said, "The talks with the chief labour commissioner have failed and we are proceeding with the strike.” 

The bank employees are against the government’s move of merging the banks and allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector.

The two day nationwide strike is expected to disrupt the normal banking transactions across 50,000 branches of the public sector banks.

Last month, despite a heavy protest from the bank employees, State Bank of Saurashtra was merged with State Bank of India.