Railway Workers Strike Disrupts Major Train Lines in São Paulo

A strike by railway workers on CPTM lines 11-Coral, 12-Safira, and 13-Jade began at midnight on Tuesday, affecting nearly 1 million daily passengers. The workers are protesting the privatization of these lines and demanding a formal, written guarantee from the government to maintain all jobs. In response to the disruption, the city of São Paulo suspended the municipal vehicle rotation for cars with plates ending in 5 and 6, and the state government implemented a contingency plan involving the Paese emergency bus system. The strike remains in effect for Wednesday, with a new assembly scheduled for 5 p.m. to determine future actions.

The conflict centers on the transfer of these lines to the private company Trivia Trens. While the lines were briefly under private management in July, CPTM reassumed control for 90 days following a series of service failures, including a wagon fire on July 23. CPTM President Michael Cerqueira stated that the schedule for the return to private initiative remains unchanged. He also alleged that the union violated a court order from the TRT-2, which required 80 percent operation during peak hours and 60 percent otherwise. CPTM reported that morning peak operation reached only 67 percent, primarily due to a lack of available train drivers.

Framing of the event varies by political lean. Center outlets focus on the operational disruptions, the legal disputes over minimum service levels, and the specific logistics of the contingency plans. Center-left outlets emphasize the workers' fears regarding job security and the impact of the strike on commuters. Left-leaning coverage highlights systemic failures and safety concerns, reporting that employees warned the private operator about electrical problems and insufficient training prior to the July fire. Meanwhile, the state government, led by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, has characterized the strike as a result of political instrumentalization rather than legitimate labor demands.