Railway workers in São Paulo have maintained a strike affecting three major CPTM train lines starting Tuesday [5].
The disruption impacts the 11-Coral, 12-Safira, and 13-Jade lines [4]. This walkout affects thousands of passengers [6] and creates significant transit gaps in the Greater São Paulo metropolitan area.
The strike began at midnight on Tuesday [5]. Workers, represented by the Sindicato dos Ferroviários da Central do Brasil (STEFZCB), are protesting the privatization process of the CPTM lines. The union is specifically demanding written guarantees that jobs will be maintained following any transition to private ownership.
A representative for STEFZCB said the government has not guaranteed in writing the maintenance of railway jobs [2].
Governor Tarcísio de Freitas dismissed the concerns of the strikers. He said the claims were "without foundation" [1]. Despite the friction, a conciliation meeting was scheduled for 12 p.m. Wednesday at the TRT-2 labor court [3].
To mitigate the impact on commuters, the justice system has mandated minimum staffing levels. The court ordered that 80% of the workforce must be present during peak hours, which are defined as 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. [3]. For all other times, the court required 60% of the staff to remain on duty [3].
While some reports indicate the strike is for an indefinite period [2], others describe it as a continuing daily disruption. The lack of full service has led to reported security issues for commuters. One CPTM user said she was robbed because of the strike [3].
“the government has not guaranteed in writing the maintenance of railway jobs”
The conflict highlights the tension between the São Paulo government's privatization agenda and labor protections. By refusing to provide written guarantees, the administration is maintaining flexibility for future private operators, while the union views such a lack of documentation as a direct threat to job security. The court-mandated minimum staffing prevents a total collapse of the transit system but fails to resolve the underlying ideological clash over public versus private infrastructure.
