TST Orders 80% Staffing as Correios Strike Persists

Overview

• The nationwide strike that began in early September remains in effect with many regional unions continuing the stoppage to demand preservation of the employees' health plan and other benefits.
• The Tribunal Superior do Trabalho issued a liminar on Sept. 12 requiring 80% of staff to remain active in each unit, a measure the court said is needed to protect essential postal and electoral services.
• Correios activated a business continuity plan mobilizing administrative workers, remobilizing vehicles and organizing mutirões, but the company has not specified which regions or delivery deadlines will be affected by the strike.
• Unions say the dispute also reflects opposition to a company restructuring that could close agencies and cut districts and staff, and they have staged local protests and planned a São Paulo march to press their case.
• The labor clash unfolds as Correios reports 15 consecutive quarters of losses and a roughly R$5.4–5.6 billion first-half deficit while seeking a proposed R$7 billion bank loan, and a collective dissídio hearing is set for Sept. 21 to settle the dispute.