31 Mar 2005
Dispute between CONTTMAF, Brazil and Petrobras SA Send letter of protest to the Brazilian Presidency and the state-owned enterprise Petrobras, in support of striking seafarers members of the ITF affiliate the Confederaçao Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transportes Aquaviarios e Aereos, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF).
Model letter 2
[UNION HEADED PAPER]
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
Presidente da República
Fax: + 55 61 411 2222
Email: To send your message please access www.planalto.gov.br choose the Presidente link and choose the Fale com o Presidente. Attachments are not permitted.
Dear Sir
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has informed us of serious difficulties encountered by the Confederaçao Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transportes Aquaviarios e Aereos, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) in concluding collective agreements with Petrobras SA and its subsidiary company, Transpetro and that the companies have been discriminating for a number of years against their seafarer employees by giving better pay and social conditions to similar shore-based employees.
I am writing on behalf of ( YOUR UNION ) to protest at the current discriminatory practices of Petrobras and its subsidiary Transpetro against seafarers in the application of Brazilian law with respect to profit sharing. We understand that the amounts received by seafarers are substantially less than those paid to similar shore-based personnel. Such practices within a state-owned company are neither equitable nor acceptable.
Whilst this issue has initiated industrial action by the seafarers, clearly the rectification of this situation requires a political decision.
The ( YOUR UNION ) therefore urges the Government of Brazil to intercede in this matter and to take all possible action to rectify this anomaly and prevent further discrimination against Brazilian seafarers.
We sincerely hope this situation can be resolved rapidly in the interests of industrial peace and social justice within your country.
Yours sincerely
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