Nearly 10 lakh workers from over 60,000 branches of public sector banks observed a two day strike on September 24 and 25, 2008. Their main demands ere to stop privatisation and merger of public sector banks in the name of "making them competitive".

A huge rally was held in the compound of the State Bank of India Headquarters in New Delhi. Thousands of workers participated in the rally. Various union leaders addressed the workers and highlighted their demands.

This strike was called by the United Forum of Bank Unions comprising nine organizations - All India Bank Employees' Association, All India Bank Officers' Confederation, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers' Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Employees Congress, Indian National Bank Officers' Congress, National Organisation of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers.

On 23rd September 2008, the negotiation between the representatives of bank workers and the government had failed because the government representative refused to accept the above mentioned main demands. Therefore, the workers had to resort to strike.