Brazil bank employees hold 24-hour national strike

Bank employees across Brazil conducted a 24-hour national strike on Thursday, August 20, 2026, as part of the 2026 Salary Campaign. The mobilization follows the rejection of a proposal by the National Federation of Banks (Fenaban), which workers criticized for lacking a concrete wage increase index and proposing different adjustments by salary bracket.

Labor representatives are demanding a 5% real wage increase above inflation, full inflation replacement measured by the INPC, an increase in the industry minimum wage, and higher values for meal and food vouchers. They are also seeking improvements to Profit Sharing (PLR) regulations.

Participation varied by region and institution. In Salvador, 100% of the 70 Caixa Econômica Federal units were affected. At Caixa Econômica Federal nationwide, participation exceeded 90%, while Banco do Brasil reported an 80% participation rate. In major metropolitan areas like Rio de Janeiro, mobilization was significant, and several cities including São Paulo and Brasília saw branch closures. While physical branches faced disruptions, digital services and ATMs remained largely operational.