CTB: 'Our action is in defense of national sovereignty'
Hundreds of protesters began gathering in front of Petrobras headquarters in São Paulo and also in the open space of the MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art), on Paulista Avenue; the National Day of Struggle in Defense of the Rights of the Working Class, Petrobras, Democracy and Political Reform, organized by 15 labor unions and social movements, continues to Praça da República, in the center of the São Paulo capital; in addition to São Paulo, demonstrations for the strengthening of Petrobras and respect for Democracy brought together thousands of people in 17 states and the Federal District; the president of the Central Workers' Union of Brazil, Onofre Gonçalves, set the tone for the event: “Our act is not against another act. Our act is in defense of national sovereignty and Petrobras. Whoever wants to speak against this, hold the act on Sunday.”
Elaine Patricia Cruz, from Agência Brasil - Hundreds of protesters are currently gathering in front of Petrobras headquarters and also in the open space of the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) to participate in the National Day of Struggle in Defense of the Rights of the Working Class, Petrobras, Democracy, and Political Reform.
The program begins in the early afternoon with a meeting of state teachers in the open space of the MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art), and at 15 pm, a demonstration will take place in front of Petrobras. Around 16 pm, demonstrators from both protests will gather to march to Praça da República (Republic Square) in the center of São Paulo.
According to the Military Police, approximately 50 protesters are currently at MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art) and 150 are in front of Petrobras. Organizers expect to gather around 30 protesters, while the Military Police estimate the participation of 3 people.
In an interview in front of the state-owned company's headquarters, the president of the Confederation of Workers of Brazil (CTB), Onofre Gonçalves, said that today's action is against the request forimpeachment from the President of the Republic Dilma Rousseff, although it is not an action against the protest scheduled for Sunday (15) in the country.
“Our action is not against another action. Our action is in defense of national sovereignty and Petrobras. Whoever wants to speak against that, should hold their action on Sunday,” he emphasized. “If anyone wants a third round, that is not written in the Constitution. The Brazilian election is in two rounds. If anyone is expecting a third round, they should wait for the next elections,” he added.
According to Gonçalvez, in addition to defending Petrobras, the action calls for political reform in the country, ending private campaign financing and preserving labor rights: “It is an act by workers in which we demand, first, that the Provisional Measures [that alter labor and social security benefits] be reviewed because they affect rights, and we don't want any workers' rights to be touched. Second, we are also defending Petrobras, which is one of the state-owned companies of the Brazilian people, generating millions of jobs and cannot be privatized and weakened to the point of serving international interests.”
In an assembly, teachers affiliated with the Union of Teachers of the Official Education System of the State of São Paulo (Apeoesp) will discuss the possibility of going on strike. The teachers are primarily demanding a 75,33% salary increase to bring their pay in line with other categories in higher education.
Today's event is organized by the Unified Workers' Central (CUT), Central Workers' Union of Brazil (CTB), New Central Union of Workers (NCST), Central Union of Brazilian Trade Unions (CSB), National Union of Students (UNE), Federation of Family Farming of the State of São Paulo (FAF-CUT/SP), Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), Popular Consultation, Landless Rural Workers' Movement (MST), Central of Popular Movements (CMP), Popular Youth Uprising, Constituent Plebiscite Campaign, National Movement of Street Populations (MNPR), Fora do Eixo Mídia Ninja (FDE) and World March of Women (MMM).