The strike at the renovation of Mineirão stadium, in Belo Horizonte finished on June 20. The strike started last Wednesday and the workers demanded wage increase and better working conditions. The strike came to an end after the workers have approved an agreement proposed by the Regional Labour Court of Minas Gerais (MG-TRT). The agreement ensured the provision of around U$ 38 in food benefits, USD 410 payment liked to the company profit, medical insurance plan and a 4% wage increase. According to the president of the union STICBH Osmir Venuto, the earnings increase (salary plus benefits) were about 15%. The union has received solidarity messages from Panama, Belgium, Nepal, Paraguay, South Africa, Peru and international organizations; moreover BWI would like to congratulate the workers for this victory … Read entire article »

The workers of Mineirão stadium went on strike on June 15th demanding higher wages and better working conditions. This stadium, located in the city of Belo Horizonte is one of the stadiums listed for the 2014 World Cup and it could host the 2014WC opener. The 500 workers of Mineirão demand to raise their minimum monthly salary from about USD 390 to USD 625 and from $580 to $755 in other professional categories. They also complain about non-payment of overtime and social benefits. … Read entire article »

On June 13, about one thousand workers that were working at Castelão stadium in Fortaleza, a host city of the 2014 World Cup, stopped in protest against the non-signature of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the state of Ceará , which has already being negotiated   by  trade unions for over 100 days. The workers of the Pacem Port and the Fortaleza subway also paralyzed, totalizing 3,000 people. In the afternoon the company Mendonça Galvão negotiated a CBA with Sintepav-CE to ensure the stadium construction progress. According to the President of the Sintepav- CE Raimundo Nonato Gomes, “The Castelão Stadium will host the Brazilian soccer team only if it gives to the construction works a satisfactory salary for the support their family and appropriate working conditions. We are not only concerned with … Read entire article »

The BWI, Building and Wood Workers` International, hereby express its deep concern about the recurring reports of Human Rights violations committed in Brazilian preparation to host the Olympics and World Cup 2014, particularly the violation of the right to adequate housing. These violations reports have appeared in the media after many denunciations from Brazilian and international social movements, and international organizations such as UN.  BWI believes that the World Cup and the Olympics are important celebrations of human life; therefore, hosting these events should make Brazilian society proud and not ashamed of it. BWI also thinks that sporting events, such as the World Cup, are opportunities to improve local people lives through employment generation, especially for young people and families that live close to the events locations. However, in Brazilian preparation to … Read entire article »