BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER WORLD CUP 2014 - Negotiations go ahead as civil police strike in Rio de Janeiro three weeks ahead of the World Cup

Record ID: 341732

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL / SOCCER WORLD CUP 2014 - Negotiations go ahead as civil police strike in Rio de Janeiro three weeks ahead of the World Cup
  • Date: 21st May 2014
  • Summary: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (MAY 21, 2014) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF CIVIL POLICEMEN ON STRIKE VARIOUS OF POLICE CARS ARRIVING CROWDS AT ENTRANCE TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS HEAD OF THE CIVIL POLICE FERNANDO VELOSO ARRIVING FOR NEGOTIATIONS DEMONSTRATOR GESTICULATING WITH THUMBS DOWN VARIOUS OF PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL POLICE UNION, FERNANDO CHAO,
  • Embargoed: 5th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3UGUHDGBOS419ORC0UXJPKR1U
  • Story Text: Civil police in the state of Rio de Janeiro began a 24-hour strike on Wednesday (May 21), just weeks away from the start of the World Cup.
    As the strike continues, negotiations have begun between the head of the Civil Police, Fernando Veloso, and the head of the Civil Police Union known as Sindpol, Fernando Chao.
    "The head of the civil police has shown his support for this movement, both for our demands and for the way in which we are going about them," said Chao at a press conference in the Police Headquarters.
    The police units are calling for salary and bonus adjustments, safety measures and infrastructure concerns along with other work related issues.
    The state has close to 11 million civil police in addition to the military police and the pacification police units.
    According to Sindpol, about 40 percent of civil police officers were on duty on Wednesday, concentrated in vital areas and responding to the most urgent matters.
    Police stations visited by Reuters were open and operating.
    The strike in Rio coincided with several other civil police strikes in different parts of the country.
    Other factions including public transportation workers, teachers and the military police have called strikes throughout Brazil in recent weeks as the country prepares to host the 2014 World Cup.
    Brazil is bracing for possible widespread demonstrations and civil unrest when the tournament begins on June 12.
    During last year's warm-up Confederations Cup millions took to the streets to denounce corruption and call for more spending on public services including healthcare and education.
    Many think the platform of the larger World Cup will rekindle the protest movement.
    The World Cup will kick off in Sao Paulo on June 12 with the final being played in Rio on July 13.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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