Caixa Econômica Federal, Brazil's state-owned bank, tabled a new offer for Saúde Caixa, its employees' health plan, in the early hours of Thursday (17). The plan is the main sticking point in a nationwide strike that began on September 10. Staff will vote on the deal in electronic assemblies on Monday (21), from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Until then, the strike continues.
What the offer says
According to the Contraf-CUT union federation and the employees' executive commission (CEE), the central change is the ceiling on the bank's share of the plan's funding, which rises from 6.5% to 9% of payroll from 2027. For 2026 there will be no increase in monthly premiums and the bank will absorb the plan's deficit. From 2027, plan holders will contribute 3.7% of base pay, capped at 9% for the family group (holder plus direct dependents). Monthly fees will be R$ 560 for direct dependents, R$ 660 for indirect dependents aged 21 to 24 and R$ 900 for children aged 24 to 27 and surviving parents, as reported by G1.
The offer keeps the plan's solidarity model, with no differentiated charges by age bracket (the so-called intergenerational pact), and keeps Saúde Caixa inside the collective bargaining agreement. The charge per urgent care consultation drops from R$ 150 to R$ 120, and telemedicine stays free of co-payment. The bank also agreed to assign at least one employee on an exclusive basis to the plan at each of its regional personnel offices.
What still depends on the vote
None of these measures is in force yet: all of them depend on approval in Monday's assemblies. If workers accept the deal, the stoppage day of August 20 will be excused and strike days will have to be compensated within 180 days. The Contraf-CUT, quoted by Poder360, says profit-sharing payments, the Super Caixa bonus and an extraordinary prize of R$ 3,000 per employee will be paid on September 30 if the deal passes by September 21. The strike began after more than 90% of union members rejected the previous offer. Brazil's banking sector as a whole had already signed its national agreement with the banks' federation, with inflation replacement plus a 0.6% real raise over two years, according to G1.
Outside the bank, the strike has practical effects. Folha de S.Paulo reports it may delay loan approvals under Move Brasil, a government-backed vehicle financing program, and other operations that depend on the bank's analysis, such as home loans. In a statement to the newspaper, Caixa said Move Brasil applications continue normally and can be completed digitally, through the bank's WhatsApp service, or in person at branches.
For customers with pending operations, the fastest route is the bank's digital channels, which remain active according to Caixa itself. Employees should follow their unions and the CEE to take part in Monday's electronic assembly, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The result decides whether the strike ends or talks restart.