São Paulo Metro workers plan possible strike over staffing shortage

Metro employees in São Paulo announced they may hold a 24‑hour strike on 13 May if approved at a union assembly on 12 May. The Sindicato dos Metroviários and Metroviárias says the walkout targets the lack of new public‑service exams and the resulting reduction in staff – the workforce has fallen to about 5,600 employees, roughly half of its size a decade ago, after the last hiring round in 2019.

The union’s demands include the immediate opening of new public competitions to refill vacant posts, equalisation of salaries for comparable roles, maintenance of health‑plan benefits and the payment of profit‑sharing bonuses. If the vote backs the strike, lines 1‑Azul, 2‑Verde, 3‑Vermelha and 15‑Prata would be halted for a full day, disrupting commuters across the city.

The dispute reflects broader concerns that understaffing is overloading workers, jeopardising both their health and service safety, while the metro authority is accused of cutting costs at the expense of staff welfare.