Alckmin: "This small group is harming the population"
The governor says the subway strike will be resolved today and that subway workers are disobeying a court order. The Labor Court ordered a guarantee of 100% staffing during peak hours and 85% at other times, under penalty of a daily fine of R$ 100.
247 with information from Agência Brasil – The governor of São Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, condemned the motivations behind the strike by Metro and CPTM employees that has affected users in the metropolitan region since midnight this Wednesday (23). In an interview with Bom Dia São Paulo, the governor said that the strike is promoted by a “radical group with political-electoral motivation, harming the population”.
Alckmin stressed that the strikers are disobeying a decision of the Labor Court. In a hearing yesterday afternoon (22), the Regional Labor Court (TRT) determined that the metro workers must guarantee 100% of the staff during peak hours, between 5 am and 9 am and 17 pm and 20 pm, and 85% at other times. The court also prohibited workers from releasing the turnstiles. In case of non-compliance, the union is subject to a daily fine of R$ 100.
The governor assured that the strike would be resolved today and has been trying to minimize its effects since 4:30 AM. The lines are being operated by supervisors to replace the striking employees.
The strike was decided at an assembly last night (22). An assembly was scheduled for noon today (23) to assess the direction of the movement and negotiate with the São Paulo Metropolitan Company. Metro workers want the replacement of inflation calculated by the Inter-Union Department of Statistics and Socioeconomic Studies (Dieese), a real increase of 14,99% and a 23,44% readjustment for the meal voucher.
In a hearing yesterday afternoon (22), the Regional Labor Court (TRT) determined that subway workers must guarantee 100% of staff during peak hours, between 5 am and 9 am and 17 pm and 20 pm, and 85% at other times. The court also prohibited workers from releasing the turnstiles. In case of non-compliance, the union is subject to a daily fine of R$ 100.
Railway workers on the Sapphire and Coral lines, which serve the eastern zone, have also decided to go on strike. The workers, represented by the Union of Railway Workers of the Central Zone of Brazil, are demanding a 5% real wage increase, in addition to inflation adjustment of 5,83%, as calculated by Dieese.
Today (23) it will be the turn of the Union of Workers in Railway Companies of São Paulo to meet with its base to decide the course of the salary campaign, also with the possibility of a strike. The union represents the workers of the Rubi and Turquesa lines, which connect the capital to Jundiaí and the ABC Paulista, respectively. The railway workers rejected the proposal of the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos (CPTM) presented at a hearing last week at the Regional Labor Court (TRT).
According to a statement from the company itself, a salary increase of 4,60% was offered, in addition to a real adjustment of 1,5%, totaling 6,17%, extended to all benefits. Profit-sharing payments were made in 2013, after the 2012 targets were determined, and the value of the meal voucher was increased to R$ 19,50.
CPTM, founded in 1992, took over the six train lines responsible for metropolitan transportation in the city of São Paulo. The different branches were previously operated by three different companies; therefore, employee representation is handled by independent unions.
Due to the strike declaration, the city's vehicle rotation system, which on Wednesday would have restricted the circulation of cars with license plates ending in 5 and 6, was suspended, according to the Traffic Engineering Company (CET).