On Friday 30 June, the main central trade union groups and social organisations in Brazil organised protests in the country’s biggest cities. The movement, which was initially supposed to be a general strike, was in protest against a reform of the labour code and retirement system. Due to disagreements between the unions, fewer people were involved in the movement compared to a previous day of protests, which took place on 28 April.
The movement brought together just a few thousand protesters in each city and, for the most part, public transport systems were able to continue functioning, except in Brasilia. Trade union leaders were divided on whether or not to use slogans directed at President Temer, who was formally accused of corruption by Brazil’s top federal prosecutor in the same week.
According to the local press, the low level of participation may be explained by a promise that the government made to trade...
Do you have information to share with us?