Court blocks Hospital da Bahia's mass radiology layoffs

A judge of the 10th Labor Court in Salvador, Cassio Meyer Barbuda, issued a preliminary injunction that bars Hospital da Bahia (HBA S/A) and its parent companies Diagnósticos da América S.A. and Ímpar Serviços Hospitalares S/A (Rede Américas) from dismissing 33 radiology technicians and assistants. The action was filed by the Sindicato dos Técnicos e Auxiliares em Radiologia do Estado da Bahia (Sindimagem) with the Ministry of Labor's Public Prosecutor (MPT), citing the lack of prior collective bargaining and alleging a plan to replace staff with outsourced contracts and remote equipment control. The court ordered an immediate suspension of any ongoing dismissals, set a daily fine of R$ 5,000 (capped at R$ 20,000) for non‑compliance, and gave the hospital five days to prove compliance. A hearing to discuss collective bargaining is scheduled for later in the month.