Thursday May 22, 2025
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Brazil: International Workers Day Sparks Calls for Minimum-Wage Hikes, Shorter Workdays

Brazil: International Workers Day Sparks Calls for Minimum-Wage Hikes, Shorter Workdays

Belén Marty by Belén Marty
May 2, 2014
in Brazil, News, Politics, Society, South America
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp

EspañolBrazilians celebrated International Workers Day yesterday, with shows by famous artists, raffles, and several political figures who sought to connect with progressive interest groups throughout the country.

Politicians like Aécio Neves, senator and president of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), and Eduardo Campos, of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB), made appearances in São Paulo, the hub for Brazil’s labor unions and their campaigns. Both Neves and Campos intend to position themselves as candidates in the next presidential election on October 5.

Thousands of union supporters gather in São Paulo to enjoy International Workers Day festivities. Source: Fotos Públicas.
Thousands of union supporters gather in São Paulo for International Workers Day festivities. Source: Fotos Públicas.

Brazil’s union leaders — including Miguel Torres, president of Força Sindical, a trade union with more than 2.1 million members — took up the banner of minimum wage increases. They demanded that it rise in proportion to the nation’s economic growth and be pegged to inflation. They also called for a reduction to working hours, while holding wages constant, and the end of the welfare factor, a system in place to calculate pensions that unions claim is too restrictive and raises the retirement age.

These demands came forth within the context of looming threats from the Federal Police union, that they will strike throughout the duration of the soccer World Cup if they do not receive an increase in salary. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on June 14, and Brazil expects to host over 600,000 tourists from around the world during the tournament.

According to political analyst Antonio Augusto de Queiroz of the Inter-Union Parliamentary Advisory Department (a lobbying conglomerate), the proposal that workers are most likely to have approved by Congress is their request to end the welfare factor, created in 1999 by former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

On the eve of International Workers Day celebrations and campaigning, President Dilma Rousseff officially announced her bid for reelection. She did so through a national address — mandated on all local radio and TV channels — that targeted employment concerns.

“We are winning the hardest and most important fight: the fight for jobs and wages,” she said. “I have no doubt that this is a country that can win the fight for jobs and wages in the difficult days ahead that confront the international economy.”

“Our government will never take a tight grip on salaries, or an iron first toward our workers. Our government will always protect labor rights and continue dialogue with unions and social movements, and find ways to improve the lives of those who live by the sweat of their brow,” said the president.

Rouseff, whose popularity has suffered a dip in the polls over corruption allegations, claimed that worker wages have risen by 70 percent more than inflation. She also intends to continue with measures that raise the minimum wage, claiming it has been an effective tool for reducing economic inequalities.

Dilma: Nosso governo será sempre o governo dos direitos e das conquistas trabalhistas, um governo que dialoga com os sindicatos (…)

— Presidência da República do Brasil (@presidencia_BR) April 30, 2014


Dilma: “Our government will always celebrate the rights and achievements of workers. A government that talks with the unions.”

Senator Neves responded to Rouseff’s announcement by saying her “statement shows the desperation of a government beset by continuous allegations of corruption and a president who has been weakened by a boycott of her own base.”

RelatedArticles

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024

Neves added that he considers it “unfortunate” that the president would use the instruments of government, like state-owned national television, for her own political campaign.

In neighboring Uruguay, discourse surrounding International Workers Day also focused on ways to implement redistributive policies. On Thursday morning, the PIT-CNT workers union called its members to Chicago Martyrs Square in Montevideo, under the banner of “more conquests to move forward.”

According to local newspaper El País, the goal of the gathering was to promote a macroeconomic policy designed to transform the country’s productive sector for greater social justice and equality.

Unions in Uruguay aim to reduce the “enormous inequality generated by the capitalist mode of production and distribution.”

In addition to their demands for greater income redistribution, they are also asking for a tax increase on agriculture and an increase in the education budget from 4.7 percent to 6 percent of GDP.

One of the most important measures proposed focuses on the national health care system and calls for the implementation of a strategic plan called “Movement in Defense of Health for Uruguayans.” The plan seeks to reduce health care costs and wait times through increased participation from unions in the system’s management.

Translated by Guillermo Jimenez.

Tags: Dilma RousseffMay Day
Belén Marty

Belén Marty

Belén Marty is the Libertarian Latina, a journalist based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has lived in Guatemala, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States and is a former candidate for local office with Argentina's Libertarian Party. Follow @BelenMarty.

Related Posts

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting
Ideology

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving
Culture

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024
These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela
Elections

These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela

November 27, 2024
Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay
Elections

Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay

November 24, 2024
Can Socialism Compete “On Equal Terms” in the Field of Ideas?
Argentina

Can Socialism Compete “On Equal Terms” in the Field of Ideas?

November 20, 2024
"The people must come to an agreement," said Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding the outcome of the elections in Venezuela, ignoring the fact that Venezuelans had already expressed themselves at the polls. (File photo)
Colombia

Petro Calls Venezuelan Elections a “Mistake”: What Lies Ahead for Colombia?

November 19, 2024
Next Post
Vice President Joe Biden Visits Mexico to Discuss Economic Relationship

Mexico: After 75-Year Absence, Peña Nieto Sets in Motion Private Investment in Energy Market

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.