Brazilian banks face labor disputes as union seeks wage hikes and Itaú tightens hybrid work rules

On 24 July, the National Command of Bank Workers (Comando Nacional dos Bancários) delivered a draft set of demands to the Federação Nacional dos Bancos (Fenaban). The document, shaped by consultations with roughly 55 000 banking employees, calls for a 5 % real salary increase, the end of abusive targets, preservation of profit‑sharing plans, protection of public‑bank jobs and a more equitable share of technology profits. The union aims to negotiate a unified collective agreement before the sector’s September salary‑base date.

Separately, employees of Banco do Brasil submitted their own claim list to the bank’s management, emphasizing the need for new public‑service hiring contests, better working conditions and the preservation of in‑branch cash services.

In parallel, Itaú Unibanco announced a change to its hybrid‑work model, raising the mandatory office presence to three days per week for administrative staff from the first quarter of 2028 (four days for superintendents starting January 2027). The bank said the shift will “preserve the balance of the hybrid format” and is accompanied by plans to lease new office towers in São Paulo. The São Paulo, Osasco and Region Bank Workers’ Union criticised the unilateral decision and warned it would monitor office‑space adequacy.

These developments highlight growing labor tensions within Brazil’s banking sector, encompassing wage and job‑security demands as well as evolving workplace‑attendance policies.