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Victory for Brazilian security guards after four-day strike
After an historic four-day strike, which was supported by over 90 percent of workers and closed 80 percent of banks in the city, security guards in Brasilia, Brazil, won a 20 percent pay increase, which represents a real wage increase of 15 percent, high-risk pay and an increase to their meal money to 17 Brazilian reals per day
The guards gathered on January, 30th in front of the Ministry of Labour where the negotiations between workers representatives and employers were taking place. They accepted by an absolute majority the proposal submitted by the employers and thus ended the strike. Security guards went back to work that night.
Along with the new contract provisions, the guards will be paid for the days they were on strike.
“It was not easy to get that offer. However, thanks to the massive participation of security guards, they emerged victorious and obtained a wage settlement over inflation, high-risk pay and an increase in food vouchers,” said the President of the Union of Security Guards in the Federal District (Sindesv-DF) and the Director of the CNTV, Jervalino Rodrigues. He also repeated that workers who took part in the strike will not be penalized in any way.
Guards, united, will never be defeated!
Security guards, who had gathered in front of the Labour Ministry, shouted messages such as, “Guards, united, will never be defeated” and “If we don’t get an offer there’ll be a strike.”
The powerful strike and the pressure of workers produced positive results. Around 7pm Sindesv-DF submitted the employers’ proposal to workers. “Despite the attempts to weaken our protest, we emerged victorious from this historic strike. I cannot thank enough the President of the Bank Workers Union in Brasilia, Rodrigo Britto, the bank managers and workers in the financial sector,” said the Federal District MP, and director of the CNTV, Chico Vigilante. He also thanked CUT and its affiliated unions for their efforts and commitment to strengthening the security guards’ movement.
“The mobilization and the unity of the group have won an important victory for workers,” said the President of the Bank Workers Union, Rodrigo Britto.