Bankers in Brazil launch strikes over rejected wage proposals

Bank employees across various Brazilian states are initiating strikes and industrial actions following the rejection of wage and benefit proposals. The movement is largely driven by dissatisfaction with offers from the National Federation of Banks (Fenaban), Banco do Brasil, and Caixa Econômica Federal.

Key points of contention include salary adjustments, which workers argue do not sufficiently cover inflation, and rising costs associated with the ‘Saúde Caixa’ health plan. In several regions, including Paraíba, Tocantins, and Pará, workers have voted to reject current proposals, leading to indefinite strikes scheduled to begin in early September 2026.

While some institutions like Banco do Nordeste and private banks saw their employees approve the Fenaban proposals, the rejection at major public banks like Caixa and Banco do Brasil threatens to disrupt branch services and customer assistance nationwide.