UNI Global Union stands in solidarity with Brazilian affiliate the National Confederation of Financial Workers (CONTRAF) and its member Union of Bank and Finance Workers of S\u00e3o Paulo, after a peaceful protest against outsourcing and bad faith bargaining ended with police violence.<\/p>\r\n
During the rally outside of Santander\u2019s office in S\u00e3o Paulo, the bank called on military police, who attacked workers with tasers and tear gas, injuring several union members, to disperse the action. The 22 August action was part of the National Day against Outsourcing,<\/p>\r\n
\u201cIt is extremely disturbing Santander would call the police on workers rather than negotiate with them,\u201d said Marcio Monzane, Regional Secretary of UNI Americas<\/strong>. \u201cBank workers in Brazil \u2013 and throughout the Americas \u2013 are organizing to protect the quality of their jobs and the quality of the services they provide. They deserve a fair collective agreement, not a vicious attack by the police.\u201d<\/p>\r\n The day against outsourcing was part of a broader effort to get a national collective agreement in the sector. So far, CONTRAF says the National Bank Federation (FENABAN) has refused to negotiate in good faith over workers’ key concerns including the preservation of banking jobs, better working conditions and ending abusive sales tactics.<\/p>\r\n Workers are also demanding real wage increases that keep up with inflation \u2013 something they say the banks can easily afford considering a total industry profit of R$144.2 billion Brazilian reals (US$25.8 billion) within the country during 2023.<\/p>\r\n Brazil is a vital market for Santander. The bank pulls in roughly 17 per cent of its global profit — US$1.68 billion in 2023 \u2013 from the country.<\/p>\r\n While Santander is profiting, CONTRAF says the bank is using a number of fraudulent hiring practices, including creating outsourced companies in different departments to fragment and weaken workers\u2019 bargaining power. This outsourcing is possible because of reforms made by the previous far-right government.<\/p>\r\n Since then, CONTRAF has consistently fought against these practices and the resulting persecution of union leaders.<\/p>\r\n UNI\u2019s Monzane<\/strong>, showing his support, said: \u201cWorkers cannot tolerate all these abuses. The violence against Santander workers in Brazil shows the resistance unions face when trying to roll back neoliberal reforms and advance justice. But we will keep pushing and keep fighting.\u201d<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n