São Paulo Legislature Approves Project to Absorb CPTM Railway Workers

The Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp) unanimously approved a bill on Tuesday that authorizes the absorption of CPTM railway workers into other state government bodies. The project, authored by Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, was a primary demand of workers who went on strike in early August. The legislation now awaits the governor's sanction and subsequent regulation. The bill allows for the transfer of employees through redistribution, cession, or other legal modalities to ensure job security following the privatization of certain lines. While the project focuses on lines 11, 12, and 13, it also includes protections for employees of line 10 in the event of future privatization. The strike occurred after the government conceded lines 11, 12, and 13 to the company Trivia Trens. Following the handover, passengers experienced operational failures and delays, leading the state transport agency Artesp to order CPTM to temporarily resume operations for 90 days. During the strike, commuters faced significant disruptions and overcrowding at stations. Despite the legislative approval, the Sindicato dos Ferroviários da Zona Central do Brasil stated that the category remains in a state of strike until all promises are fully sanctioned and implemented. A center-left source framed the event as a victory for the working class, quoting a lawmaker who described the mobilization as a lesson in labor power. A center source focused more on the legislative process and the operational chaos experienced by passengers during the strike.