Union takes Itaú to court over mass layoffs

Bank workers’ representatives say about 1,000 dismissals were carried out without prior notice

*Bank previously said layoffs were due to productivity reasons — Photo: Divulgação*

he Bank Workers’ Union of São Paulo, Osasco and Region has filed a class-action lawsuit against Itaú Unibanco after the bank carried out a mass layoff of employees on Monday (8). According to the union, around 1,000 workers were dismissed without the union being given prior notice.

In a statement released Thursday evening (11), the union said: “In addition to being unjustifiable in light of the bank’s multibillion-real profits—over R$22.6 billion in the last half-year alone—the mass layoffs by Itaú disrespect employees, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CCT) of the banking category, and Brazilian labor law, which requires prior negotiation with unions in cases like this.”

“We heard from the dismissed employees in a plenary session held this Thursday (11). Itaú violated basic rules protecting employment and disregarded the collective bargaining table. A bank that earns billions cannot treat its workers as disposable numbers,” said Neiva Ribeiro, the union’s president, in the statement. “We will take legal action to reverse this attack and hold Itaú accountable for its disregard for the law and for the category,” she added.

Itaú did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

*By Eulina Oliveira — São Paulo

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com/