Caixa strike halts the release of over R$430 million in federal lottery prizes.
The national strike of Caixa Econômica Federal employees, which reaches its 15th day this Thursday (24), has created a problem that goes beyond queues and bank service: winners of some of the biggest prizes in this year's federal lotteries are unable to start the redemption process.
The bottleneck is operational. Prizes up to R$ 2.428,80 can be withdrawn at lottery outlets or through Caixa Lotteries' electronic channels, but gross prizes above that amount can only be withdrawn at bank branches, precisely the points affected by the strike. There is also an additional step: amounts equal to or greater than R$ 10 are only released at least two business days after the winner presents the winning ticket at the branch.
The prizes are stalled.
The most emblematic case is that of the Lotofácil da Independência. The 3.780th draw, held on September 15th, ended with 72 winning tickets sharing a prize of R$ 300 million — approximately R$ 4,48 million for each winner.
On the same day, a single bet registered through Caixa's electronic channels correctly matched all five numbers in the Quina lottery draw number 7.118 and won R$ 34.072.521,02. Two days later, a group bet with nine shares made in Presidente Venceslau (SP) correctly matched all six numbers in the Mega-Sena lottery draw number 3.059 and will receive R$ 101.970.706,13.
Combined, these three main prizes alone exceed R$ 435 million — not counting secondary prizes and other winners exceeding the lottery outlets' limits. The Gazeta de São Paulo estimated that winners from various lotteries have yet to claim more than R$ 400 million in prizes.
The 90-day clock
Winners have 90 days from the date of the draw to begin the redemption process, and there is no provision for exceptions due to the strike. Caixa maintains that there is no risk of payment suspension precisely because of this deadline, but acknowledges that those with prizes exceeding R$ 2.428,80 who visit a branch during the strike may not be served and may be unable to claim their prize. Contacted by Gazeta de São Paulo, the bank's press office did not respond regarding the deadline calculation or the investment of the frozen funds.
This point deserves attention. For winners of the Lotofácil da Independência and Quina lotteries, the deadline is mid-December. The strike has no end date, and each day the agency is closed is one less day in the redemption window—without the bettor having caused the delay. And unclaimed money does not revert to the prize fund: according to article 14, § 2, of Law No. 13.756/2018, prizes not claimed within the statute of limitations are reverted to the Student Financing Fund (Fies).
Given this situation, the least that can be expected from Caixa and the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA/MF) is a formal act suspending the counting of the deadline for the duration of the stoppage, providing legal certainty to those who won.
The digital alternative offers little help to big winners. For bets placed on the Caixa Lotteries portal or app, prizes exempt from Income Tax can be redeemed via Mercado Pago — that is, only amounts within the exemption limit.
the stalemate
The strike began on September 10, after assemblies across the country rejected the Collective Agreement proposal by more than 90%, with Saúde Caixa as the main focus of dissatisfaction. The third version of the proposal removed the age-based charge, maintained the solidarity model and raised Caixa's participation ceiling in the plan's cost from 6,5% to 9% starting in 2027. Employees assessed, however, that the text still imposes high costs on workers, retirees, pensioners and dependents. In a virtual assembly on Monday (21), more than 90% of the union bases rejected the offer.
The most recent attempt at a solution also failed. On Wednesday (23), the Vice-Presidency of the Superior Labor Court held a mediation session with Caixa, Contraf-CUT and Contec, at the request of the Labor Public Ministry, without it being possible to reach an agreement. Contraf-CUT stressed that this is not yet a collective dispute, but pre-trial mediation.
Meanwhile, Caixa reports that benefit payments are proceeding without delay, with September deposits for Bolsa Família and Pé-de-Meia already underway, as they are automated. Lottery prizes, which depend on in-person tellers, were excluded from this automation—and remain pending.
