News

Following the recommendation of the National Leadership of Bank Workers, coordinated by Contraf – CUT (National Confederation of Financial Sector Workers), the vast majority of bank workers’ meetings held on Friday 11 around the country approved the proposal of Fenaban (National Federation of Banks) , as well as the specific agreements for the largest public banks, Banco do Brasil and Caixa Economica Federal , ending the largest strike in the sector for the last 20 years (23 days long).



The employers’ proposal raises to 8.0 % (real increase of 1.82%) the increase rate on wages and on other benefits, to 8.5 % the minimum wage floor in the sector (real gain of 2.29 %) and to 10% the additional part of the profit sharing scheme (PLR). It also increases from 2% to 2.2% the net profit to be equally paid to all employees over the additional part of the profit share scheme (PLR), besides other economic and social gains.

The Fenaban proposal, presented on the 22nd day of strike, and after 18 hours of tough negotiations, advanced after banks declined from initial proposal to make strikers compensate all strike days in 180 days. Eventually, they agreed to have strikers working at most one extra hour per day, from Mondays to Fridays, from the date the agreement is signed until December 15.

Sales pressure and health at the heart of two of four new clauses

The agreement also includes four new clauses: banks are prohibited to send SMS to employees demanding performance; one day per year’ absence allowance; constitution of group work with experts to investigate the causes of employees’ illnesses; and provision of a R$ 50 Culture Stamp (Government program designed to allow workers to enjoy cultural activities with an incentive of R$ 50 a month).

Victory of union mobilisation, courage and unity



"We have to congratulate bank workers. They expressed their power by hitting banks intransigence, whose strategy was clearly to end the sector yearly increases and to reduce costs. They wanted to defeat workers making them feel exhaust with a long strike and then punish strikers with the discount of days off. It was the victory of workers’ mobilization, courage and unity, "says Carlos Cordeiro, president of Contraf - CUT and coordinator of the National Leadership.



According to Contraf-CUT, a map on the national movement pointed that until Friday 11, most workers had approved both the general Fenaban proposal and the specific agreements with the largest public banks, Banco do Brasil and Caixa . Some local unions would hold meetings on this Monday (14) and a few regional banks continue on strike.

Fonte: http://www.contrafcut.org.br/noticias.asp?CodNoticia=36165