Carlos Vasconcellos
SeebRio Press
Bank employees from the State of Rio de Janeiro participated this Saturday, May 4, in the meetings of Caixa Econômica Federal, Banco do Brasil and private banks. The events, which took place in three different locations – the Union’s auditorium (Caixa), AABB-Tijuca (Banco do Brasil) and the Union’s Campestre Headquarters, in Jacarepaguá (private) – were organized by Federa-RJ (Federation of Workers in Financial Branch of the State of Rio de Janeiro).
Although they are not deliberative in nature, the meetings are relevant for debates on the main problems and specific challenges in each bank and general challenges for the banking category and for all workers in the financial sector.
Priorities in 2024
The State Conference of bank employees will be held on May 18th. The president of Federa-RJ, Adriana Nalesso, recalled that the state meetings and the National Consultation are the first steps for the category to participate in the National Campaign 2024, in which the renewal of the Collective Labor Convention will be defined and spoke about the challenges faced by bank employees and banking.
“One of the challenges we have is in relation to employment, as we are living in a time of intense technological transformations that have impacted jobs in the category. Therefore, having representation in our Collective Agreement for all workers in the financial sector, such as digital banks and fintechs, and discussing forms of hiring is fundamental”, he highlighted.
The issue of bank employees becoming ill is another priority that was debated at state meetings and will also be on the agenda of the State Conference on the 18th and at the National Conference, which will take place on the 7th, 8th and 9th of June this year, in São Paulo.
“The health of bank employees has been greatly impacted by the model of imposing inhumane targets, as demonstrated by research carried out by the Union of the Federal Capital with the University of Brasília (UNB). The construction of the fight is collective, which is why we count on the participation of the entire category in this 2024 campaign to overcome these challenges”, added Adriana.
The events also included a presentation of the current economic situation and banking employment made by the economist and technician at Dieese (Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies), Vivian Machado, who showed, in addition to the growth in layoffs in private banks, caused by the closure of physical branches, the reduction in the hiring of bank employees covered by the Collective Labor Agreement (CCT) and, on the other hand, the exponential increase in the admission of outsourced workers and ITs (Information Technicians).
The union movement even denounces cases of fraudulent hiring, as is the case of Santander, which has transferred bank employees to new contracts, in outsourced companies belonging to the Spanish group itself, causing these employees to lose the rights provided for in the CCT.
This year, the category will decide on the renewal of the Collective Agreement, which also needs to guarantee a real increase in salaries, with the recovery of the purchasing power of bank employees, as well as more PLR and an increase in tickets, better health and working conditions and equality of opportunities and salaries on racial and gender issues,
Public banks
Bank employees also discussed the need to strengthen public banks. At the Caixa meeting, topics such as the victory of the repeal of CGPAR 42 and the need to further advance the new text of CGPAR 52, which affects all state-owned workers, were on the agenda. These debates are directly related to Saúde Caixa’s demands. Holding more public competitions for hiring at Caixa and BB are also crucial topics, due to the increase in work overload.
In the public sector, physical branches are also closing, leading employees to be transferred to locations even further away from their homes.
Goals, bonus plans, teleworking and promotion criteria, in addition to specific themes for pension funds (Funcef and Previ) will also continue to be debated during this year’s campaign.
At Caixa, the unions reject the transfer of lotteries and the credit card sector to subsidiaries of the state-owned company, which they consider a split to facilitate a future privatization of the company.
At BB there are still issues such as the attempt to do away with executive tellers, the dismantling of the PSO (Operational Support Platform), distortions in the GDP (Professional Performance Management). the lack of transparency in the PDG (Gratified Performance Program), the difficulties in professional advancement, the problems in the “Conexão” program and the reduction in the protagonism of the bank’s social role, among other issues.
“We count on the participation of the entire category in this national campaign. It is with the mobilization of bank employees that we will move forward in renewing the Collective Labor Convention and collective agreements. The National Consultation is available on our website and is also an important means of participation”, said the president of the Rio Union José Ferreira.
Next steps of the campaign
• The National Consultation continues and runs until May 27th
• May 18: State Conference of Bank Workers
• June 4, 5 and 6: BB and Caixa national congresses
• June 6: National Meeting of Private Banks
• June 7, 8 and 9: National Bank Workers Conference
