Rio Bus Workers Halt Lines at Real and Vila Isabel as Union Takes Case to Court

Overview

• Drivers from Viação Real and Vila Isabel held a garage protest to demand overdue pay and benefits, which the union says is an action against the firms rather than a sector-wide strike.
• The stoppage left at least five routes fully suspended and several others partly operating, with 13 lines reported as impacted over the day.
• The union says it will file a collective lawsuit to recover unpaid amounts, citing months without FGTS and INSS deposits at Viação Real, alleged layoffs without severance, and failed mediation attempts.
• The Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation and summoned Real Auto Ônibus and the Intersul consortium to provide explanations, and it asked the city transport authority to step up oversight.
• The Municipal Transport Secretariat created two special lines, extended routes on lines 109 and 157, reinforced similar services, and stated subsidies are current with operations monitored by the CIMU.