0
Ricco Transportes drivers, responsible for public transportation in Rio Branco, will stop activities starting tomorrow, September 10, indefinitely. The announcement was made by the workers’ representative, Antonio Neto, during an interview on the morning of Tuesday (9), after a demonstration held in the galleries of the Rio Branco City Council.
The stoppage is motivated by the lack of salary adjustment and dissatisfaction with working conditions. According to Neto, since May, drivers have been waiting for a readjustment, but the company and the city of Rio Branco have not offered a solution so far.
The stoppage will affect the entire Ricco Transportes bus fleet/ Photo: Reproduction
“Since May, the company claims that it is unable to readjust without increasing the city’s allowance. We are in a difficult situation. The worker cannot be readjusted. Expenses have increased, inflation has risen, and we need to guarantee decent working conditions,” said Antonio Neto.
The stoppage will affect the entire Ricco Transport bus fleet, which currently has about 400 to 420 employees. However, according to the union, only 30% of the fleet should remain operating, as provided for in cases of strike. Public transportation in Rio Branco will be strongly affected, especially for those who depend on the service to get around the city.
The impasse of the readjustment
The central reason for the stoppage is in the impasse around the readjustment of the subsidy paid by the Rio Branco City Hall to Ricco Transportes. At the moment, the company and workers are waiting for the vote on a bill (PL) that aims to increase by $ 0.50 the transfer per passenger, from $ 2.63 to $ 3.13. The proposal is being discussed in the Rio Branco City Council, but has not yet been voted.
Despite the proposal of readjustment in the subsidy, the public transport tariff should not be changed, remaining at R $ 4.00. However, workers fear that, without increasing the subsidy, the operation of public transport is compromised, damaging both employees and users.
The city of Rio Branco, in turn, argues that the readjustment of the subsidy is necessary to balance the costs of the operation, mainly due to the increase in the price of diesel and other inputs. The municipal administration also states that the measure is temporary, valid until the conclusion of the bidding process that will choose new companies to operate public transport in the city.
Workers’ claims
In addition to the salary readjustment, Ricco Transport drivers also charge FGTS -related pending issues, which the company promised to regularize through a financing with Caixa Econômica Federal. However, the focus of the strike will be specifically the salary readjustment, which is considered an urgent measure by workers.
“Our mobilization point will always be the urban terminal. We are open to dialogue, but the strike will be maintained until a solution is presented,” said Antonio Neto, stressing that the category can no longer wait without a definition.
