Banks disappoint in first round of negotiations with unions.

Fenaban - The first round of negotiations with the banks, on Thursday the 28th, was frustrating for the workers. Fenaban (the banking federation) did not bring any answers to the table regarding the pre-agreement to guarantee its validity. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) after August 31st, a proposal was presented by the National Command of Bank Workers, which represents the workers at the negotiating table, already in the delivery of the agenda, which took place on June 13th.Furthermore, no timetable has been established for the next negotiations. The only date set was July 12th for the second round. 

“We were hoping to leave this first round with a pre-agreement guaranteed. But unfortunately, Fenaban didn't provide any answers. The pre-agreement is fundamental given the end of the ultra-activity clause, one of the harmful aspects of the labor reform (Law 13.467/2017),” emphasizes Ivone Silva, president of the São Paulo Bank Workers Union and one of the coordinators of the Command. 

The principle of ultra-activity, abolished by the new law, guaranteed the validity of an agreement until the signing of another. Thus, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the banking sector expires on August 31st of this year. “Therefore, without a pre-agreement, all our rights stipulated in the CBA, which are historical achievements of our struggle, such as the six-hour workday, profit-sharing, meal vouchers and food vouchers, pre-retirement stability, in short, all our rights are at risk. For this reason, bank employees must be alert and prepared for mobilization,” emphasizes Ivone Silva.

The second round was scheduled for July 12th at 10 am, due to the banks' schedules. "We brought forward our entire campaign this year precisely because of this risk [end of the extended validity of collective bargaining agreements], and also because it will be the first after the new labor law, which removes rights, comes into effect. Therefore, we hope that on the 12th the banks will provide an answer regarding the extended validity of our collective bargaining agreement. And that they don't repeat the frustration of this first round," says the union leader. 

This year, Fenaban arrives at the negotiating table with a new negotiator: Adauto de Oliveira Duarte has taken over the position, replacing Magnus Apostólico. 

Negotiations

Ivone points out that the new law is, in fact, weakening collective bargaining. According to a survey by Fipe (Economic Research Institute Foundation)The number of formally registered negotiations fell by 74% in the first five months of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. The drop was more pronounced in collective bargaining agreements, which saw an 84% reduction. "This decline is already a consequence of the 2016 coup and the various rights that were taken away from it," Ivone points out.

“Given this, the category must be, more than ever, prepared to fight in defense of its rights and the negotiation model itself, which is also at risk. It is no coincidence that one of the central themes of our debates at the state and national conferences was the defense of a single, valid negotiation table for the entire country,” says Ivone.

Priorities

One of the priorities of this campaign is to ensure that the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) remains valid for all bank employees, regardless of their remuneration. One of the harmful aspects of the new labor law is the concept of the "hypersufficient" employee: those who earn more than twice the INSS ceiling (currently R$ 11.291) could establish direct agreements with their employer and would not be protected by the CBA. Other priorities include: establishing clauses in the CBA that protect bank employees from other threats foreseen in Law 13.467, such as temporary contracts and outsourcing; job security; defense of public banks; and real wage increases. Another fundamental point is the defense of a single negotiation table.

"In the 26 years of our Collective Bargaining Agreement, we have managed, through much struggle, to add benefits such as meal vouchers, food vouchers, profit-sharing, childcare/babysitting allowance, and a 13th-month bonus... And only the mobilization and struggle of our category will be able to maintain these rights," emphasizes the president of the Union.

The Bank Workers' Campaign is on the streets.

Alongside the negotiation tables, the banking sector is launching its campaign in the streets, engaging in dialogue with workers in bank branches and administrative centers, as well as with the general public. This year's campaign theme is "All for Rights," to confront the threats of the labor "reform" (Law 13.467/2017). Always with great humor and creativity, bank workers are organizing football matches between a team representing workers and a team representing employers. 

The 2018 Campaign hit the streets for the first time on June 13th, with playful act in Largo da BatataOn the same day, the 13th, the National Command of Bank Workers, which represents the category at the negotiating table with the banks, He delivered the list of demands to Fenaban (the banking federation). of the workers. The Unified National Campaign of Bank Workers has also already been launched in Osasco, on Tuesday the 26th, and on Avenida Paulista, on Thursday the 28th.

See below a video of the launch on Paulista Avenue when, with goals from Democracia, Petrobras and Coalhada, the Todos por Direitos team – representing 450 bank employees – defeated Ganância Futebol Clube, which represents the bankers.