In São Paulo, metalworkers are planning a protest against outsourcing.

SP 247 - The Metalworkers Union of Osasco and Region released a statement against bill 4330/2004, which allows companies to outsource all their activities. "We will begin this Wednesday, the 15th, with demonstrations at the gates of several companies in the region to mark our position," the text says.

According to the statement, "outsourcing core activities makes labor relations more precarious." "In the courts, the TST (Superior Labor Court) ruled in favor of maintaining ruling 331, which differentiates between core and non-core activities."

"The fact that we have been affiliated with Força Sindical since its founding makes us quite comfortable expressing a few points: 1) democracy within the union is the reason for its strength; 2) negotiation is one of its main historical instruments."

Read the full note:

The Metalworkers Union of Osasco and Region opposes the possibility of outsourcing core activities. By serving the interests of employers, the approval will make labor relations more precarious. Therefore, we will begin this Wednesday, the 15th, with demonstrations at the gates of several companies in the region to mark our position.

The fact that we have been affiliated with Força Sindical since its founding makes us quite comfortable expressing a few points: 1) democracy within the union is the reason for its strength; 2) negotiation is one of its main historical instruments.

That said, some points should be made regarding the approval of the substitute bill for Bill 4330/04. As it stands, the bill regulating outsourcing in the country does not address the struggle waged for eleven years against Bill 4330/2004. A fundamental issue remains: the possibility of outsourcing core activities, i.e., the production line. This is a battle that has not yet been won, and judging by the balance of power in Congress, where the majority is linked to employers' interests, we are going to have an arduous battle. This balance of power was one of the factors that led to the bill being put on the agenda and finally approved in 2015, as it had been under consideration since 2004.

The other issue is that, for at least two years, a negotiation process has been underway involving labor unions, business confederations, and Congress to ensure that the work of the approximately 12 million outsourced workers receives the necessary guarantees.

However, there was no agreement with the bill's rapporteur, Deputy Arthur Maia (SD-SP), regarding what could or could not be outsourced, the definition of core and non-core activities. For us, this is the crucial issue. Therefore, despite recognizing the efforts of Deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva in submitting amendments that guarantee rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and union representation, the Metalworkers' Union of Osasco and Region does not agree with the approved proposal. Outsourcing core activities makes labor relations more precarious.

In the courts, the TST (Superior Labor Court) ruled in favor of maintaining summary judgment 331, which differentiates between core and non-core activities. We will follow the negotiations, the proceedings in the Chamber and the Senate, and the position of President Dilma Rousseff, as well as the decisions of the STF (Supreme Federal Court). At the same time, we will fight to defend our rights.