News

In India, striking bank workers undermine ATM access

June 1, 2018

In India's second largest city, Kolkata, approximately 80 percent of ATMs were inaccessible to account holders on Wednesday, the first day of a two-day strike called by workers at India's public banks.

According to a report by Telegraph India, this situation was despite the fact that ATMs had been filled the evening before the strike in anticipation of cash demand while bank branches were closed.

In some instances, ATMs were forcibly shuttered by striking bank public workers. In others, private banks shut down their own ATMs for fear that they would be vandalized in retaliation for providing access to cash and other banking services during the strike, the report said.

"Depositing cash, transferring funds or paying bills, everything can be done at an ATM these days," one striking bank worker told the Telegraph. "If we allow the ATMs to remain open, this strike would not be successful."