Workers protest in Itaqui and halt construction at Tegram.
During the protest, the workers demanded a 30% hazard pay increase, as well as better working conditions. “We are working in a hazardous area. Gas pipelines run where we work, and this represents a danger to everyone. That's why we are asking for more safety,” said Davi Ribeiro, one of the workers.
Maranhão 247 - Employees of Zortea Construções Ltda., the company responsible for building four storage warehouses at the Port of Itaqui in São Luís, went on strike yesterday to demand better working conditions. They were claiming a 30% hazard pay increase, alleging that they are exposed to the risk of accidents because they work in an area near gas pipelines.
The protest brought together approximately 100 company employees who gathered in front of the gate that provides access to the warehouses being built in the port area. The action was joined by all the other company workers who are directly involved in the construction of the warehouses, which are part of the Maranhão Grain Terminal (Tegram).
Claims – The workers' main claim is the hazard pay, which they allege they are not receiving. This benefit is a sum paid to employees exposed to activities considered high-risk and harmful to health, as per regulations approved by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE).
During the protest, the workers demanded a 30% hazard pay bonus, as well as better working conditions. “We are working in a hazardous area. Gas pipelines run where we work, and this represents a danger to everyone. That's why we are asking for more safety,” said Davi Ribeiro, one of the Zortea workers.
While the workers' demonstration lasted, all activities for the construction of the Itaqui Port warehouses were interrupted. During the mobilization, workers also demanded better working conditions, changes to the health plan offered by the company, profit sharing, among other benefits. "Two weeks ago, they said they would resolve these problems within 72 hours, but so far nothing. So we decided to hold this protest," pointed out Francisco das Chagas Bastos, an employee of Zortea.
We contacted representatives from Zortea, but no one was available to comment on the employee strike. In a statement, the Maranhão Port Administration Company (Emap) reported that operational activities at the Port of Itaqui were not affected by yesterday's protest.
According to the statement, the action involved workers from the outsourced and contracted company that is one of those responsible for the construction of the Maranhão Grain Terminal (Tegram). Also according to Emap, all operations scheduled for yesterday were carried out and the workers' protest ended yesterday afternoon.