Meta Must Reinstate Brazilian Bank Workers’ Union on WhatsApp, Says UNI
UNI Global Union has called out Meta’s unjustified decision to permanently shut down the official WhatsApp service channel of its Brazilian affiliate, the São Paulo, Osasco and Region Bank Workers’ Union (Sindicato dos Bancários de São Paulo, Osasco e Região). UNI supports the lawsuit the union has filed against Meta and backs its demand for the channel to be reinstated immediately.
The union, which represents more than 120,000 workers in public and private banks, uses its WhatsApp number as its central service line. Through it, bank workers seek legal advice after dismissal, have their termination payments checked, arrange consultations on occupational accident benefits and get guidance on their rights.
On 15 October, Meta disabled the union’s WhatsApp Business number account, citing only a generic “violation of the Acceptable Use Terms” while its own dashboard rated the number’s quality as “High”. Every appeal the union made received a standard reply and on 19 October Meta rejected its final appeal, again without identifying any rule, message or conduct. The ban also prevents the union from registering any new number on the platform. The union has now taken legal action in the São Paulo state courts to have its channel restored.
“Meta silenced the channel that bank workers use to reach their union, and never told us why. No company can cut off a union from the workers it represents with an automated form. We will fight this in court and we ask for the solidarity of unions around the world,” said Neiva Ribeiro, President of the São Paulo, Osasco and Region Bank Workers’ Union.
The channel, essential to providing services and defending workers’ rights, had been used strictly for union issues. Nevertheless, the ban’s timing is particularly concerning. It comes just days before Brazil’s presidential run-off on 25 October and at a time when Meta stands accused of interfering in the election.
Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court has ordered the company not to restrict the distribution of content related to the presidential candidates, under a daily fine of 500,000 Brazilian reals (since doubled to 1 million reals), following complaints that posts by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign were selectively restricted. Furthermore UN rapporteurs have denounced the company’s attitude and demanded that Meta not interfere in democratic processes.
Internal communications by Meta employees reported that the platform hindered Lula’s campaign communications. Meta has acknowledged technical failures affecting President Lula’s campaign but denies any deliberate interference. The union has worked with the administration of President Lula to advance workers’ rights, and has been critical of the previous Bolsonaro administration’s policies.
“Meta has cut bank workers off from their union without any explanation. Silencing a trade union in the middle of a national election is an attack on workers and on democracy itself,” said Christy Hoffman, General Secretary of UNI Global Union. “Freedom of association without interference is a fundamental right enshrined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Meta’s human rights policy recognizes this. No company, however powerful, should be able to take it away at will. Meta must restore this channel immediately and tell the union, and the public, exactly why it was banned.”
See UNI’s letter to Meta in Brazil below.