Brazilian strikers slowly return to work
Brazilian postal workers are returning to their jobs after a prolonged national strike as local unions accept a pay increase. According to Correios, the Brazilian postal service, a pay increase of 9%, retroactive to August this year, plus $100 linear increase from January 2010, has been agreed with a number of the unions.
A total of 30 Brazilian postal union locals went on an indefinite strike on 17 September, covering about 70% of the nation’s 109,000 postal workers, with a 41% wage increase being sought.
Over the course of the following week employees from different locations slowly began returning to work. Rio de Janeiro workers returned on the 18 September, joining the staff of Bahia, Ribeirão Preto, Santos and Bauru, Santa Maria and Uberaba. By 21 September only 24% of the 109,000 remained on strike, according to Correios.
In a meeting held on 24 September, employees in Para decided to accept the company’s proposal. Two other unions, Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina, also decided to end the strike.
More to follow…
