Eduardo meets with Dilma this Wednesday.

PE247 – One day after receiving the support of the Força Sindical union should he run for President of the Republic in 2014, the governor of Pernambuco, Eduardo Campos (PSB), will meet with President Dilma Rousseff (PT) in Brasília this Wednesday afternoon, the 6th. The exact agenda of the conversation is unknown, but, given the context of the invitation extended by the president, the meeting will likely focus on Provisional Measure 595/2012, which allows private companies to operate cargo in new terminals, with the bidding processes under the responsibility of the National Agency for Waterway Transportation (Antaq). According to Eduardo Campos, the measure undermines the autonomy of the Port Authorities.

The invitation comes a day after the general secretary and president of Força Sindical, João Carlos Gonçalves and federal deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva (PDT-SP), respectively, expressed their support for the governor of Pernambuco, this Monday, the 5th. The union leaders met with the socialist to seek his support against the Ports Provisional Measure. The category does not view the measure favorably, stating that it will cause unemployment and lower wages for workers, and demands more dialogue from President Dilma with the union sector, since workers would be hired directly by the company and not through the Labor Management Organization (OGMO), responsible for the registration and monitoring of casual workers.

Approximately 40 workers, representing the Força Sindical, the Brazilian Labor Confederation (CBT), the Unified Workers' Central (CUT), the General Workers' Union (UGT), and the Ninth Central, will march this Wednesday, starting at 9 am, in Brasília, to protest against the Ports Provisional Measure. Issues such as the elimination of the social security factor, reduction of the work week to 40 hours, and the creation of a policy to value retirees will also be on the agenda.