Brazilian workers mobilized from north to south of the country to ensure their rights. The strike at the São Francisco River transposition project still continues after 30 days and is led by BWI affiliate SINTEPAV-CE, which represents workers in the state of Ceará, Northeastern region of Brazil.
Another strike led by SINTRAPAV PR, is reaching 20 days in Paraná, the southern region of Brazil. There are also mobilizations and strikes lasting one or more days at construction projects in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo.
"Despite the slowdown in the construction sector, workers who are working in a number of projects are willing to fight and demand their rights, especially those relating to the payment of their salary on time and in an appropriate manner," said President of SINTEPAV-CE, Raimundo Nonato Gomes.
"We are under incredible pressure from all sides, from companies and from this anti-union government, but we are resisting and organizing for our right to negotiate collective bargaining agreements---a right which they want to end," said Raimundo "Bahia", President of SINTRAPAV-PR.
The trade union movement along with other social movements have been hard hit by the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro since he took office on January 1st, 2019. Since March 10, a presidential decree (MP 873) unions are prevented from collecting trade union membership at workplaces, resulting in the collapse of many unions particularly in small towns and rural sector.