Brazil: in the run up to the World Cup, trade-unions, employers and judges on the edge

One month before the football World Cup kicks off, several occupational categories are announcing or are launching strikes in Brazil. Like the labour judges, employers are on the edge. The former are planning to rule on the legality of the strikes even if these might take place at weekends. The latter are criticizing the cost of public holidays that may be decided upon when the Seleção plays. At least, the World Cup has been beneficial to those workers who have built the stadium facilities as they were given a pay rise at the end of a 26-week strike, despite a heavy human toll of nine fatalities. 
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With one month to go before the start of the World Cup, on 12th June next, Brazil is in a state of turmoil. Civil servants from the Ministry of Culture are threatening to go on strike right in the middle of the national museums week ; civil servants from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are planning to close down 17 diplomatic missions a few weeks before the arrival of 600 000 foreign tourists. Over and above this, we have the air carriers, the federal police officers, the teachers, the engineer

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