BRAZIL
Written by Metro Workers Trade Union
Monday, 09 June 2014 17:57
Intensify the struggle, defend the right to strike, prevent any punishment, we want to negotiate now.
Everyone has been following the mobilizations going on in Brazil with strikes and demonstration by workers and popular organizations expressing their indignation about the World Cup with its astronomic costs and corruption, all in function of the interests of the multinational companies and FIFA.
But at the same time people have been putting forward their concrete struggles making demands for salaries, rights, housing, better public services. They have denounced repression and criminalization of dissent, etc.
At this moment, the metro (subway) workers in Sao Paulo are in the fifth day of a strike which began last Thursday. The transport workers carry 4,000,000 passengers every day in the city where, next Thursday, June 12, the opening of the World Cup will take place. Because this strike is so important, the government has decided that it has to be defeated come what may. It is seeking to impose an end to the strike and also prevent the mobilizations from escalating in the coming days.
The Brazilian Justice, working hand in hand with the interests of the government, big business and FIFA declared the strike illegal today (Sunday, June 8) and demanded that the metro workers return to work immediately. It has established a daily fine of US$ 222,000 on their union for non-compliance.
This decision by the Labour Court allows the government to dismiss the strikers, contravening all their legal and economic rights.
We are counting on the support and solidarity of all the Brazilian union centrals that are organization initiatives in support of the strike.
The Union and the workers have decided to continue the strike, despite the government’s orders, in order to defend their demands and also to defend their right to strike.
We need your support and solidarity. Send messages to the e-mails below, post photos on social networks, broadcast this call on your lists and web sites.
Full support for the Sao Paulo Metro Workers
Response to the demands of the transport sector
In defence of the right to strike.!
No to repression, no punishment!
Alckman negotiate!
Altino Prazeres
President, Sao Paulo Transit Workers Union
International Network of Solidarity and Struggle
CSP Conlutas – Brasil
President of the metro workers union of Sao Paulo
http://www.metroviarios.org..br/site/ – https://www.facebook.com/sindicatodosmetroviariosdesaopaulo
For International Trade Union Solidarity and Struggle
CSP-Conlutas — Brazil
http://cspconlutas.org.br/ – https://www.facebook.com/CSPConlutas
Please send copies to :
– sindicato@metroviarios-sp.org.br
– imprensa@metroviarios-sp.org.br