Railway workers in Sao Paulo have entered a second day of striking, leaving three CPTM train lines in partial operation.
The disruption affects thousands of daily commuters in Brazil's largest city, highlighting tensions between public sector workers and the state government over the privatization of transit infrastructure.
The strike began at midnight on Tuesday, Aug. 4 [1]. By Wednesday, Aug. 5, the labor action continued to impact three specific lines: the 11-Coral, 12-Safira, and 13-Jade [3].
The Sindicato dos Ferroviários da Central do Brasil (STEFZCB), the union representing the workers, said the strike is a response to the concession of these lines to the company Trivia Trens [5]. The union also said it rejected a recent offer from the state government [5].
Service on the 11-Coral line remains partial between the Luz and Guaianases stations [4]. Similarly, the 12-Safira line is operating partially between the Brás and Itaim Paulista stations [5].
There are conflicting reports regarding the 13-Jade line. Some sources indicate the line remains partially affected [3], while other reports suggest it has returned to normal functioning [6].
The strike represents a broader struggle over the transition of public rail assets to private management. The workers seek better terms and guarantees as the state moves forward with the Trivia Trens agreement.
“The strike began at midnight on Tuesday, Aug. 4.”
This labor action underscores the volatility associated with the privatization of essential public services in Brazil. By rejecting government offers and targeting the concession to Trivia Trens, the union is leveraging commuter disruption to negotiate protections or better terms during the transfer of ownership from the state to the private sector.
