The negotiations would seek a new labour deal to succeed the current agreement, which expires on 1st August.

Brazil Post said in a statement on Monday that it would aim to make the next labour contract successful and benefit its 120,000 employees, including 57,000 mail carriers.

It said over the past nine years, pay for most staff has increased 138%, compared to the Consumer Price Index increase in the same period of 76%.

The current base salary for postal workers in Brazil is BRL 942.75 a month ($468 USD), compared to BRL 395.95 in 2003 ($196 USD in 2003).

Brazil Post said it was also offering various benefits to the union including up to BRL 675 ($335 USD) in food stamps, transport vouchers, childcare benefits, pensions, and healthcare benefits.

Workers are also being offered up to 30% of base salary in extra overtime.

Union

FENTECT – the Federation of Workers in Post and Telegraph Companies – was invited to begin negotiations for the new deal yesterday (3rd July) but declined the meeting at Brazil Post headquarters in Brasilia.

The union said it had not yet finalised its list of demands for the process. Brazil Post has now issued a fresh invitation to begin talks next Tuesday (10th July).

Last autumn FENTECT led a strike at Brazil Post that involved around a third of workers after collective bargaining negotiations failed to reach agreement.

The strike was ultimately ended by a court order after lasting almost a month.

Source: Post&Parcel/Brazil Post

Tags: Brazil, Brazil Post, collective bargaining agreement, Correios ECT, FENTECT, Union