News

The Supreme Labor Court (TST) of Brazil has ruled an end to the week-long strike by Brazilian postal workers and issued a one-year contract award between FENTECT unions and the Brazilian post office, known as Correios.

The award includes wage increases of 6.5% dating retroactively to 1 August. During the hearing at the TST, the labour minister proposed a wage increase of 8%, whereas Correios held to its best proposal of 5.2 percent.



Importantly, the TST ruled that the strike was not illegal and workers will not be penalized vacation days for their time on the picket line.



For its part, FENTECT was disappointed that the dispute was settled in court. The union federation maintained that the issue was one to be settled by collective bargaining, which had begun in early July. Still, FENTECT congratulated the thousands of members that boldly took up strike action to protest Correios's poor treatment and refusal to bargain in good faith.



The union vowed to continue its struggle, noting that the TST president acknowledged that Correios workers have low salaries compared to other federal workers. The union has called on Correios to shift its investment priorities from advertisement and financial markets into machines and the workers.