There are three things that certain in Brazil - DEATH, TAXES AND STRIKES.
It appears that the things that top the list of most frequent strikes are public tranportation (buses, subways & communter trains), airlines and following closely behind are the banks.
A nationwide bank stike is scheduled to begin as of today. As if it isn't already difficult enough for expats to open a bank account in this country, after today our ability to conduct transactions will be limited to either ATM, online banking or telephone banking services only.
Frankly, I've come to realize that Brazil is the "Promised Land of Strikes". While I have always supported the worker's right to organize and to strike for better salaries and work conditions, I believe too that this should have its limits. In private sector companies strikes are effective tools for collective bargaining, however in the public sector any strke holds the general population to ransom. In the case of banks it can also have a detrimental effect on the economy.
I come from a country (Canada) where the law designates certain industries/services as ESSENTIAL and greatly limits the right to strike or establishes mimimum levels of service that must be maintained. I really think that should be the case here in Brazil too.