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Cross-border solidarity wins justice for river crews in Brazil
9 Agosto 2010
Reports of a highly effective example of cross border solidarity were well received at the inland navigation section conference on Saturday. Delegates heard how sympathy action by Argentine workers helped secure pay increases of up to 24 per cent for Brazilian crews on vessels operated by Cinco Bacias.
The success came following a 22-day strike led by the Brazilian CONTTMAF transport federation in April this year. It was called to secure €2million (US$2.65) in back pay and turned nasty, with the multinational company sacking many strikers.
After 15 days of the stoppage, the Brazilians contacted the Argentine seafarers’ union SOMU for assistance. The Argentinians immediately called a three-day solidarity strike in support of their Brazilian colleagues.
This shut down all traffic on the Paraná river. Cinco Bacias returned to the negotiating table and CONTTMAF won a new collective agreement giving rises ranging from 24 per cent for an AB to 10 per cent for masters. In addition, a one-off 4 per cent pay increase was applied for this year to compensate for the previous lack of a collective agreement.
CONTTMAF president Severino Almeida Filho applauded the solidarity action taken by SOMU. “The stoppage by the Argentinians was important because it demonstrated to the company that it had much more to lose than just its Brazilian operations.”
For SOMU, general secretary Omar Suárez said his union was happy to provide support to CONTTMAF. “We are trade union brothers in the region, in the industry and in the ITF, so it is natural that we would want to act in solidarity,” he said.
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