The conciliation meeting to discuss the bus strike in São Luís, Maranhão, ended without agreement this Friday (30), with representatives of public road transport workers, transport companies and São Luís City Hall.
The attempt to mediate the strike, which began this Friday, was carried out in the afternoon, at the headquarters of the Regional Labor Court of the 16th Region (TRT-MA).
Given the continued strike, the TRT-MA granted an injunction determining that 80% of the bus fleet return to circulation immediately. A new round of negotiations was scheduled for next Tuesday morning (3), at TRT-MA.
Deadlock
This Friday’s hearing was mediated by the TRT-MA inspector, judge Gerson Oliveira Costa Filho. Representatives from the Union of Passenger Transport Companies of São Luís (SET), the Union of Road Transport Workers of Maranhão (STTREMA), as well as bodies from the governments of Maranhão and the City of São Luís participated.
Bus workers demand a 15% increase, in addition to compliance with the Collective Labor Agreement, an increase in food vouchers and the inclusion of dependents in the health plan. Businessmen offered 2%.
The companies’ union maintains that any progress in negotiations depends on public authorities’ definitions of the subsidies paid by the city hall to companies.
Faced with the impasse, workers presented a new counter-proposal of 12% salary adjustment, which will be discussed by businesspeople.
Vouchers
Around 700,000 passengers use public transport daily on urban and semi-urban lines, affected by the strike. While negotiations are ongoing, much of the capital of Maranhão spent the day without public transport.
On social media, the mayor of São Luís, Eduardo Braide, announced the availability of vouchers for use on the 99 transport app.
“Those who are already registered do not need to do anything further. The following message will arrive for you: the city hall has released vouchers to be used in the 99pop and 99 moto categories. We managed with the 99 app that the high demand during the strike period does not cause large increases in ride prices”, he explained.
The measure had already been used by the city hall in February 2025, when road workers also stopped their activities. The resources invested came from part of the subsidies paid to public transport entrepreneurs.
