TST ends Caixa strike and sets salary and health plan readjustment

Employees of the Caixa Econômica Federal are expected to return to work after the decision of the Superior Labour Court (TST) taken on Tuesday (29). In analyzing the collective dispute involving the bank and the representatives of the employees, the court also defined new salary conditions and maintained the rules of the Health Fund, one of the main points of divergence in the negotiations.

The strike, which began on September 10, was not considered abusive by the TST. With this, workers will not have the days of shutdown discounted directly from wages. In contrast, the period should be compensated within a maximum period of 180 days.

Wage adjustment is defined by the TST

The decision establishes for the employees of the Caixa a readjustment corresponding to 100% of the variation of the National Consumer Price Index (INPC), plus 0.6%. The conditions defined in the trial will be valid for two years.

The same criterion should be applied to a number of benefits paid to workers, including food and meal aid, food basket aid, nursery aid, babysitting aid and damages related to robberies or accidents.

Healthcare was at the heart of the negotiations

One of the main obstacles to an agreement between employees and the institution was related to the financing model of the Health Fund.

During the negotiations, the workers advocated changes in the costing format of the plan, including the withdrawal of the participation limit equivalent to 6.5% of the payroll and the return to the model in which 70% of the expenses would be paid by the company and 30% by the employees.

Caixa, on the other hand, has been advocating changes in the rules to ensure the financial sustainability of the plan in the coming years. Before the trial, a proposal submitted by the bank even provided for the company’s stake ceiling to be expanded from 6.5% to 9% of the sheet from 2027, but was rejected by employees.

Previous rules will be maintained

In its decision on Tuesday, the TST chose to preserve the norms provided for in the collective agreement that was in force between 2024 and 2026.

In this way, the values related to the Health Box will also be corrected by the INPC plus 0.6%. Among the conditions maintained is the monthly allowance of the holder equivalent to 3.5% of the remuneration.

Also remain rules involving collection of dependents, income limits for indirect beneficiaries, co-participation in consultations conducted in emergency and ceiling for co-participation values.

The trial also incorporated clauses of the previous collective agreement related to topics such as working hours, overtime, paternity leave, adoption, stability, telework, workers’ health, diversity, equal pay and measures to prevent violence and harassment.

Strike began in September

The national mobilization of Caixa employees began on September 10, after the category rejected the proposal presented for the renewal of the Collective Labour Agreement. The previous document had lost its validity at the end of August.

Prior to the final trial, Minister Mauricio Godinho Delgado had determined that at least 60% of the employees remained active in each agency, either in person or remotely, during the shutdown.

The Caixa had requested the maintenance of 80% of the framework, arguing that the strike could affect services considered essential, among them the bank compensation and the payment of social benefits. The TST fixed the lower percentage to try to reconcile the continuity of care with the right of workers to strike.

With Tuesday's trial, the court ordered the shutdown to be terminated and the immediate return of employees to activities.

See also: https://bntonline.com.br/ponta-grossa-preve-orcamento-de-r-21-bi-para-2027-veja-os-principais-inversões/