Brazil bus worker strikes

Labor disputes involving bus workers have emerged in different Brazilian cities. In Palmas, drivers initiated a strike to demand the implementation of the 2026 minimum wage and to protest improper deductions regarding salaries and food vouchers by the concessionaire Sancetur. Workers also requested improved facilities, such as access to drinking water and restrooms. A regional labor court issued an injunction for minimum service levels, though disputes remain between the union and the city government regarding compliance.

In Manaus, the indefinite strike by approximately 7,000 workers has ended. The mobilization, which began on November 9, had reduced the city fleet by approximately 50 percent due to recurring delays in salary payments and demands for the settlement of an estimated R$ 222 million in debts related to 2025. The strike caused significant disruptions, leading the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), the State University of Amazonas (UEA), and the Federal Institute of Amazonas (Ifam) to suspend in-person activities.

Before the resolution, the Regional Labor Court of the 11th Region (TRT-11) issued an injunction to end the strike, citing insufficient notice for an essential service. The court imposed a fine of R$ 120,000 per hour for non-compliance and authorized police force to ensure the return of the full fleet. The Union of Urban and Road Collective Transport Workers of Manaus and the Metropolitan Region (STTRM) announced the resumption of normal service after receiving assurances that unpaid salaries would be deposited on November 10.

A financial dispute persists between the Amazonas state government and Sinetram, the transport companies' union, regarding nearly R$ 300 million in alleged debts.