Bus drivers' strike affects 20 municipalities.
The strike, which began on Thursday, spread to 15 more cities; it affected more than 1 million users.
Rio Agency - The bus drivers' strike - which on Thursday affected 1 million users in the municipalities of Niterói, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Maricá and Tanguá, on Friday spread to 15 more - eight in the Baixada Fluminense and 7 in the South Fluminense - increasing to more than 2 million the number of people having difficulty reaching their destination.
Bus drivers and conductors from Niterói, São Gonçalo, Itaboraí, Maricá, and Tanguá joined the movement initiated by bus drivers and conductors from Nova Iguaçu, São João de Meriti, Nilópolis, Belford Roxo, Mesquita, Paracambi, Miguel Pereira, Engenheiro Paulo de Frontin, Mendes, Rio das Flores, Vassouras, Itaguaí, Paty dos Alferes, Seropédica, and Mangaratiba.
In Niterói and São Gonçalo, there are practically no buses running, and passengers, who are forming huge lines at the bus stops, are questioning the union's claim that 40% of the fleet is actually operating, as required by the strike law.
Due to the strike in the Baixada Fluminense region, SuperVia has increased its staff of attendants and security personnel at stations and reduced the intervals between trains departing from the stations. Also due to the strike, traffic is complicated on the Presidente Dutra and Washington Luís highways because of the high volume of vehicles.
The drivers are demanding, among other things, a 16% increase in wages and an increase in the value of the basic food basket, while the employers are offering a 10% increase, which has made an agreement between the parties unlikely. This Friday, the Regional Labor Court (TRT) is holding a conciliation hearing between bus drivers and bus companies in Niterói and neighboring municipalities.