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Brazil’s Workers Take to the Streets in a One-Day Strike Brazil’s Workers Take to Streets in One-Day Strike
(about 2 hours later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — A one-day nationwide general strike, meant to capitalize on a wave of mass demonstrations across Brazil last month, produced mixed results on Thursday, with some cities and states disrupted severely and others largely unaffected.RIO DE JANEIRO — A one-day nationwide general strike, meant to capitalize on a wave of mass demonstrations across Brazil last month, produced mixed results on Thursday, with some cities and states disrupted severely and others largely unaffected.
Demonstrators blocked two of the nation’s main ports for much of the day, along with several highways essential to commerce in Brazil, South America’s largest country. Many banks and schools, along with some factories, were closed or occupied, as employees marched in the streets or conducted sit-ins outside their places of employment.Demonstrators blocked two of the nation’s main ports for much of the day, along with several highways essential to commerce in Brazil, South America’s largest country. Many banks and schools, along with some factories, were closed or occupied, as employees marched in the streets or conducted sit-ins outside their places of employment.
“The giant has awakened, and it’s not going back to sleep again,” said Marcelo Tredinnick, 41, an aerospace engineer who was writing slogans on posters at a rally at the intersection of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Avenida Rio Branco, downtown Rio’s two most important streets. “The people are making their will known.”“The giant has awakened, and it’s not going back to sleep again,” said Marcelo Tredinnick, 41, an aerospace engineer who was writing slogans on posters at a rally at the intersection of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Avenida Rio Branco, downtown Rio’s two most important streets. “The people are making their will known.”
In contrast to last month’s mass protests, which began spontaneously, relied on social media to spread a broad-ranging message and had few identifiable leaders, the “National Day of Struggle” on Thursday was called by Brazil’s eight main labor union federations and was heavily scripted. The unions, which have a combined membership of six million, even met in advance with the authorities to work out the rules of the protest.In contrast to last month’s mass protests, which began spontaneously, relied on social media to spread a broad-ranging message and had few identifiable leaders, the “National Day of Struggle” on Thursday was called by Brazil’s eight main labor union federations and was heavily scripted. The unions, which have a combined membership of six million, even met in advance with the authorities to work out the rules of the protest.
“That was a substantial change,” said Fernando Grella Vieira, the secretary of public security in São Paulo, where police violence against young people during last month’s demonstrations incensed many older Brazilians and helped strengthen the protest movement. “We were able to hold meetings, exchange e-mails and talk by telephone to jointly define the locales” where demonstrations would take place.“That was a substantial change,” said Fernando Grella Vieira, the secretary of public security in São Paulo, where police violence against young people during last month’s demonstrations incensed many older Brazilians and helped strengthen the protest movement. “We were able to hold meetings, exchange e-mails and talk by telephone to jointly define the locales” where demonstrations would take place.
Some of the union federations, as well as the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement, which also participated in Thursday’s strike, have a friendly relationship with the government and the Workers’ Party, which has been in power since 2003 and was one of the main targets of the protests in June. As a result, there has been talk of the government’s trying to co-opt the protest movement through the unions, and some of last month’s most enthusiastic participants decided to keep their distance from Thursday’s strike.Some of the union federations, as well as the Landless Rural Workers’ Movement, which also participated in Thursday’s strike, have a friendly relationship with the government and the Workers’ Party, which has been in power since 2003 and was one of the main targets of the protests in June. As a result, there has been talk of the government’s trying to co-opt the protest movement through the unions, and some of last month’s most enthusiastic participants decided to keep their distance from Thursday’s strike.
The unions also did not seem to have a unified message despite negotiations among the eight labor federations aimed at producing a common agenda. While some opponents of the government called for the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff, whose popularity has fallen sharply since the start of the protests, those in the government camp carried banners endorsing the vague promises of political reform that Ms. Rousseff has been making in an effort to defuse the movement.The unions also did not seem to have a unified message despite negotiations among the eight labor federations aimed at producing a common agenda. While some opponents of the government called for the ouster of President Dilma Rousseff, whose popularity has fallen sharply since the start of the protests, those in the government camp carried banners endorsing the vague promises of political reform that Ms. Rousseff has been making in an effort to defuse the movement.
In addition, the strikers’ tactics seemed to vary from city to city. In São Paulo and Rio, Brazil’s two biggest cities, the public transportation system was functioning normally for the most part. But in other large cities, like Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, buses and subways were closed down, forcing thousands of people either to stay home or to walk long distances to work.In addition, the strikers’ tactics seemed to vary from city to city. In São Paulo and Rio, Brazil’s two biggest cities, the public transportation system was functioning normally for the most part. But in other large cities, like Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre, buses and subways were closed down, forcing thousands of people either to stay home or to walk long distances to work.
With the exception of those in Rio, most of Thursday’s marches went off without violence. At some highway blockades, tires were burned and a few windows were broken, but over all, the police and the demonstrators seemed to be making an effort to be on their best behavior. In Rio, however, a confrontation between a small masked group — which ignored the appeals of march organizers to refrain from violence — and the police led to the use of tear gas and an abrupt end to what had been a peaceful afternoon demonstration. After dark, protesters who had gathered outside the state governor’s palace to demand his removal were dispersed with tear gas and pepper spray after they set off fireworks and threw garbage cans at the building.With the exception of those in Rio, most of Thursday’s marches went off without violence. At some highway blockades, tires were burned and a few windows were broken, but over all, the police and the demonstrators seemed to be making an effort to be on their best behavior. In Rio, however, a confrontation between a small masked group — which ignored the appeals of march organizers to refrain from violence — and the police led to the use of tear gas and an abrupt end to what had been a peaceful afternoon demonstration. After dark, protesters who had gathered outside the state governor’s palace to demand his removal were dispersed with tear gas and pepper spray after they set off fireworks and threw garbage cans at the building.
Some of the complaints and demands made at the union marches echoed those of last month’s broader-based demonstrations. “Brazil can no longer be labeled the country of soccer and samba,” read a banner carried by Eni Jacuru, 58, a vendor. “We need to be the country of education, health and policies for the people, without corruption.”Some of the complaints and demands made at the union marches echoed those of last month’s broader-based demonstrations. “Brazil can no longer be labeled the country of soccer and samba,” read a banner carried by Eni Jacuru, 58, a vendor. “We need to be the country of education, health and policies for the people, without corruption.”
But the main focus of Thursday’s strike seemed to be traditional issues like wages, working hours, pensions and benefits — of obvious interest to the teachers, nurses, bank tellers, bus drivers and factory workers who turned out in large numbers. “A first-class country can’t have third-class jobs,” read posters plastered on buildings downtown.But the main focus of Thursday’s strike seemed to be traditional issues like wages, working hours, pensions and benefits — of obvious interest to the teachers, nurses, bank tellers, bus drivers and factory workers who turned out in large numbers. “A first-class country can’t have third-class jobs,” read posters plastered on buildings downtown.
“I marched last month as a citizen, and now I’m marching as a worker,” said Regina Lorosa, 54, a nurse’s aide. “To me, the two things are complementary. The important thing is to keep this movement going and the pressure on, like wave after wave crashing on the shore, pounding away at the government until Brazil gets the changes it needs.”“I marched last month as a citizen, and now I’m marching as a worker,” said Regina Lorosa, 54, a nurse’s aide. “To me, the two things are complementary. The important thing is to keep this movement going and the pressure on, like wave after wave crashing on the shore, pounding away at the government until Brazil gets the changes it needs.”