Brazil · Labour
Public-bank workers in Brazil have voted to strike from 10 September 2026. Private-bank workers accepted the employers’ offer and will not walk out.
Key Facts
- What happened:Bank workers in Brazil voted to strike from 10 September 2026.
- Who it hits:Caixa and Banco do Brasil staff in at least eight states. Pará is already out.
- The catch:This is not a general bank strike. Private-bank workers approved their agreement.
- Why now:Caixa and Banco do Brasil workers rejected their own bank agreements, not the national deal.
- What comes next:The main wave starts at midnight on 10 September. Goiás Caixa staff struck on 8 September.
Brazil’s public-bank workers have voted to strike from 10 September. The split runs by employer rather than by state, and Pará walked out first, at midnight on Friday 4 September.
Votes in Belo Horizonte and Tocantins
On 4 September, Caixa and Banco do Brasil staff in Belo Horizonte voted for an indefinite strike from 10 September. Their union reported that 93.5% of Caixa voters rejected Fenaban’s offer and 68.2% backed the strike.
The bank workers’ union in Tocantins approved an indefinite strike for Caixa and Banco do Brasil staff, starting the same day. The union said the move follows a national mobilization coordinated by Contraf-CUT, the finance workers’ confederation.
National Rejection at Caixa
Workers at Caixa Econômica Federal rejected the proposal nationally. In São Paulo, Osasco and region, 90% of Caixa voters rejected it, and the union SPBancários reported a strike from 10 September.
The federation Fetec-SP said that in 93 union bases, Caixa employees decided to launch an indefinite strike from 10 September. This shows broad support for the stoppage among Caixa workers.
What Workers Want
The unions are negotiating renewal of the national collective agreement, called the Convenção Coletiva de Trabalho (CCT), for 2026–2028. They also seek specific agreements for Caixa and Banco do Brasil.
Fenaban, the banks’ federation, made a final proposal, but workers rejected it. The exact pay claim is not published in the sources, but the rejection indicates dissatisfaction with the offer.
Early Paralysations in Some States
Pará bank workers began an open-ended strike on 4 September, ahead of the national date. Maranhão follows on 8 September and Bahia joins on 10 September.
These early actions are part of a staged escalation, according to the outlet MeuTudo. Other states are still voting or have yet to define dates.
Impact on Customers
The sources do not provide specific guidance on how the strike will affect customers. They do not confirm whether digital channels will remain operational.
Customers should expect possible branch closures and delays in services at affected banks. The strike is set to begin at 00:00 on 10 September 2026 if no new proposal is presented.
Background on the Negotiations
The CCT covers all bank workers in Brazil and is renegotiated every two years. This year’s talks involve Fenaban, which represents private and public banks.
While private bank agreements have been approved in many areas, Caixa workers have rejected the proposal. Banco do Brasil workers in some regions also rejected it, with 81% voting against in Belo Horizonte.
What Happens Next
The strike is scheduled to start on 10 September 2026. Workers will stop work at midnight if no new proposal is made.
Unions are coordinating nationally through Contraf-CUT. Further votes and actions may occur in other regions, but no national strike figures are available.
What the Banks Offered
Fenaban’s final offer was a 0.6% real pay rise for 2026 and again for 2027. Real means above the INPC inflation index.
Most private banks have already settled nationally. The dispute is concentrated at the two state-owned banks, Caixa and Banco do Brasil.
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Where the Split Actually Runs
The division is by employer, not by region. Workers at private banks approved the Fenaban collective agreement in assemblies on 3 and 4 September.
Caixa and Banco do Brasil staff rejected their own bank-level agreements. Those are separate negotiations from the national deal.
Pará went first and went furthest. Its workers voted 91.6% to strike on 31 August and walked out at midnight on Friday 4 September.
It is the only state where private-bank workers joined. Everywhere else the private banks are working.
Indefinite strikes from 10 September were approved in Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Paraíba and Sergipe. In São Paulo, Guarulhos and Sorocaba the strike covers Caixa only.
Goiás moved earlier, with Caixa staff striking from Tuesday 8 September. Rondônia rejected the Caixa and Banco do Brasil terms while approving the Fenaban deal.
What the Fenaban Deal Contains
The agreement was concluded on 29 August after thirteen rounds. It runs for two years rather than one.
It gives full INPC inflation replacement plus a 0.6% real increase for 2026 and 2027. That applies to salaries, allowances, meal and food vouchers, childcare assistance and profit sharing.
No headline percentage exists yet. The INPC figure it depends on is due on 11 September.
One figure is often misattributed. The R$3,000 (US$585) bonus covering roughly 71,500 staff belongs to Banco do Brasil’s own agreement, not to the Fenaban deal.
More: Brazil news, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the bank workers strike start in Brazil?
The strike is scheduled to start on 10 September 2026. It begins at 00:00 if no new proposal is presented.
Which banks are affected by the strike?
The strike affects Caixa Econômica Federal and Banco do Brasil workers. Private banks are not striking in most regions.
Why are bank workers striking?
Workers rejected Fenaban’s pay offer for the 2026–2028 collective agreement. They are demanding better conditions.
Will my bank branch be closed during the strike?
Branches may close in areas where workers strike. Digital channels are not confirmed to be affected.
Sources: Diário do Comércio; Jornal Opção Tocantins; SPBancários; Fetec-SP; MeuTudo; TV Sim Brasil.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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