News

Brazilian bank workers, on a nationwide strike for seven days, continue to expand and to intensify the stoppage in the whole country. On Wednesday, September 25, 10,024 branches and administrative offices of public and private banks were closed in 26 states and in the Federal District. Workers in strategic areas also joined the strike, especially the call centers.



The national strike started on Thursday 19, and, as in previous years, has been growing day after day. On the first day, 6,145 units were closed, growing to 7,282 on the second day, to 9,015 on the fifth, and to 9,665 units on the sixth day. This is an increase of 63.12 % compared to the first day of the strike.



The “only” proposal presented by Fenaban, the employers’ organisation, was an increase of 6.1% , which is exactly the inflation rate of the period. The proposal was presented on September 5 and it was nationally rejected by all bank workers’ meetings throughout the country on September 12.



"We completed a week of a strong national strike which is stronger than last year. Meanwhile, banks have been silent for twenty days. They are intransigent and don’t negotiate with bank employees in a clear sign of disrespect towards workers and society. We’ll strengthen our mobilisation even more and increase stoppages in order to reopen negotiations to reach a decent proposal, with real wages increase, better profit share, improvement in the wage floor, more jobs, end of turnover and outsourcing, better working conditions with the end of abusive sales targets, more security and equal opportunities, "says Carlos Cordeiro, president of Contraf-CUT and coordinator of the National Leadership of Bank Workers.



The National Leadership, which represents 95 % of Brazilian bank workers will meet on this Thursday 26, in São Paulo, to assess the first week of strike and discuss ways to expand and strengthen the movement.



Marches and demonstrations



Besides going on strike, bank workers have been engaging in rallies and demonstrations across the country. On Tuesday 24, there were marches in cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Campo Grande. More protests were scheduled for Brasilia, Joao Pessoa, Fortaleza and Salvador, among others.



"We will increase street protests to dialogue with customers and society , showing that banks, whose profits reached 13 billion dollars in the first half of this year, are fully capable of meeting the economic and social demands of bank employees, of reducing interest rates and bank fees, and of ensuring quality customer services, "concludes Carlos Cordeiro .



Source: Contraf-CUT.