Brazil: São Paulo City bus drivers go on strike

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday, June 14, the bus drivers and collectors of São Paulo City’s public transportation went on strike indefinitely. The decision occurred after a conciliation hearing ended without agreement yesterday afternoon, June 13, at the Regional Labor Court (TRT) of São Paulo.

According to the Union of Drivers and Collectors, the public transport companies had until 11:59 PM yesterday to submit a new proposal – which could prevent the strike if it met workers’ demands.

“At first, the employer sector insisted on offering only a 10% readjustment and in installments. Now, they have offered 12.47%, but only starting in October [2022], which is unacceptable,” said the union’s acting president, Valmir Santana da Paz, known as Sorriso.

Among other demands, the workers ask for a salary increase based on the National Consumer Price Index (INPC), which is 12.47% (retroactive to May), and the application of the same value in the meal voucher and profit-sharing. They also claim the end of the unpaid lunch hour.

According to the TRT, the workers must comply with the injunction issued by the court determining the guarantee of circulation of 80% of the workforce during peak hours (6 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM) and 60% at other times. In case of non-compliance, there will be a daily fine of R$50,000.

According to SPTrans, the operation occurred as expected at 5 AM this Tuesday in 24 of the 40 garages of the system. The Santo Amaro Terminal dawned without vehicles.

According to information from G1, the Grajaú Terminal, also in the South Zone of São Paulo, was closed after protesters used two buses to interrupt the flow of vehicles.

Because of the strike, São Paulo’s Traffic Engineering Company (CET) suspended the rotation of vehicles on Tuesday, allowing the circulation of license plates with ends 3 and 4.

Here are the companies with paralyzed operations in their garages due to the strike:

• Santa Brígida (North Zone);
• Gato Preto (North Zone);
• Sambaíba (North Zone);
• Express (East Zone);
• Viação Metrópole (East Area);
• Ambiental (East Side);
• Via Sudeste (Southeast);
• Campo Belo (South);
• Viação Grajaú (South Zone);
• Gatusa (South);
• KBPX (South);
• MobiBrasil (South Area);
• Viação Metrópole (South Area);
• Transppass (West Side);
• Gato Preto (West Zone).

Here are the companies that are operating normally:

• Norte Buss (North)
• Spencer (North Zone)
• Transunião (East Side)
• UPBUS (East Side)
• Pêssego (East Side)
• Allibus (East Side)
• Transunião (South East)
• MoveBuss (East Area)
• A2 Transportes (South Area)
• Transwolff (South)
• Transcap (West Zone)
• Alfa Rodobus (West Zone)

For those who depend on public transportation to get to work, the bad news is that a strike is not a justification for missing work.

In labor law, inevitable and unforeseeable events can be accepted for absence. However, the strike does not fall into this category since it was publicized and confirmed by the unions.