- Title: BRAZIL: General strike in Brazil takes toll on public services.
- Date: 10th August 2012
- Summary: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTIANS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (AUGUST 10, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF GALEAO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT GENERAL VIEW OF WEBJET AIRLINES PLANE ON THE TARMAC SIGN OF FEDERAL POLICE IMMIGRATION SEVICE GENERAL VIEW OF EMPTY WAITING ROOM GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE WAITING TO BE SEEN BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS (SOUNBITE) (Spanish) PASSEN
- Embargoed: 25th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Economy,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA6ANIJ5R3F324PY0Y8CUYW3U39
- Story Text: In Brazil a nationwide strike by public sector workers is causing major disruptions to everyday life.
Chaotic scenes at airports, roads and police stations throughout Brazil were reported on Friday (August 10), as a national strike was called by government employees.
Members of the federal police, agriculture ministry, and public universities are all part of the national strike calling for better pay and working conditions.
Gilberto Costa, Federal Police agent believes the rights he and his fellow colleagues are fighting for are well overdue.
"We have been promoted to the senior level of our careers but the government is not paying us as such. We have senior responsibilities, the government itself recognizes that. The main thing we want is the restructuring of our careers," he said.
Massive queues at the country's main airports caused major flight delays due to the fact tht there were fewer agents to perform security and passport checks.
Despite the inconvenience passengers were supportive and understanding.
Nuria Molina came to the international airport of Rio de Janeiro to get her visa renewed but was told to comeback another day.
"It is an inconvenience. I don't know what they are protesting against but if they think they should strike, I think they are right. Workers need to fight for their rights," she said.
The agents made sure every single bag was inspected to prove a point that if everyone did their jobs to the letter of the law chaos would ensue.
In the centre of Rio de Janeiro a march by public sector workers also called for the government to improve their pay and working conditions.
"Our proposal for pay increases has been under the review since 2008. We haven't received an answer from the government to this day," he said.
In the northeastern state of Bahia, protests by the highway police also caused disruptions to traffic. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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