Bank Amendment 2024: Even as Profits Rise, Banks Propose to Withdraw Rights

The negotiating table began on Tuesday, the 20th of this month, for the National Bank Workers Campaign for 2024, with the banks wanting to remove the rights from this category. They proposed reducing the PLR ​​for bank employees and removing the PLR ​​for workers Sickness benefit for more than 90 days.

Moreover, they proposed to divide the collective labor agreement (CCT) of bank employees, according to the return on equity (ROE) of each bank. Thus, banks with lower profitability, for example, would pay benefits proportionally, which would mean reducing the rights of bank employees, such as PLR, VA, VR, daycare assistance, etc. The national banking leadership strongly rejected the proposal put on the table.

There is no proposal to re-adjust the bank staff.

Once again, the VENAPAN (Banking Association) sat at the table without proposing a reclassification index. Negotiations continue tomorrow and the leadership hopes that VENAPAN will finally present the index that the bank staff has been eagerly awaiting.

“We will not accept setbacks! Finaban’s proposal is ridiculous, it comes from one of the most profitable sectors of the Brazilian economy. Moreover, we are already in the eighth round of our campaign negotiations and the bankers have not presented any proposals for the index. This is disrespectful to the workers. The bank employees already sent their message on the National Day of Struggle for a Real Increase that we held last Thursday, and we will continue to mobilize. We want a decent proposal, with inflation replaced and a real increase in salaries, PLR, VA, VR and other funds. We will not accept the withdrawal of rights and we have already made that clear.”

Neva RibeiroPresident of the Union and one of the coordinators of the National Leadership of Bank Workers

Banks can meet claims.

Neva also points out that the banking sector has all the conditions necessary to meet the requirements of this category. “It is one of the most profitable and profitable sectors in the Brazilian economy, and therefore, there is no justification for a reduced proposal, such as the one presented today. We will not accept it!” He adds: “Banks can and should value their employees, who achieve excellent results in this sector on a daily basis.”

In the first half of 2024, the four largest banks (Itaú, Bradesco, Santander, and BB) together generated profits of R$54 billion, an increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2023. In 2023, the banks generated profits of R$145 billion.

The leadership also recalled that of the total sectors in the country that conducted salary negotiations between January and June of this year, 86% received a real increase, sectors with lower profits and profitability than those of banks. “We are not in a time of losses, quite the opposite, the economy is flourishing and the sector is more prosperous. In 2023, banks made profits of R$145 billion.” Jovandia Moreirawho is also the leadership coordinator.

“The logic of the banks is to attack rights and reduce wage rates. We will not discuss anything that leads to losses for the banks and bank employees. We want to discuss a collective agreement that has real gains,” Govandia added.

Work remotely

After threatening, at previous tables, to reduce remote work, the banks backed down and on Tuesday presented a proposal to keep offices from home. The leadership made clear that maintaining remote work is a priority for bank employees and that the group will not accept setbacks.

The remote working clause was one of the achievements of the last campaign, in 2022, and the bank’s employees want to strengthen the rights provided for in the CCT program, with an increase in the home office allowance.

New round

A new round of negotiations between Commando and Venappan will be held on Wednesday 21, starting at 10 a.m. The command explained that it is awaiting the index proposal in what will be the ninth round of the campaign.

Find out what the negotiating tables look like so far

• The first session discussed jobs;
• The second table discussed social items, especially telework, technology and 4-day working hours;
• The third table discussed equal opportunities.
• The fourth table was about people with disabilities, neurodiverse people and banking security.
• The fifth table was about health and working conditions.
• The sixth table began discussing economic items.
• Table 7 continued the discussion on economic items.

Meanwhile, there are also specific negotiation tables for the renewal of the Caixa and Banco do Brasil agreements. Follow these negotiations on the BB and Caixa pages of the Union's website.