Sao Paulo, June 5:
Sao Paulo subway workers announced an open-ended strike amid fresh protests Wednesday, hitting World Cup preparations as Brazil defended itself against criticism over chronic delays and soaring costs.
The Sao Paulo metro is the main transport link to the economic capital’s World Cup host stadium, which will host the opening ceremony and kick-off match on June 12, and the strike could pose a massive logistical headache for organisers.
Workers decided to strike from midnight Thursday after negotiations on a salary increase fell through. They rejected an offer of 8.7 percent, insisting on at least 10 percent, said the president of their union, Altino Melo dos Prazeres.
“If there’s money for the Itaquerao (the nickname of host stadium Corinthians Arena) and the World Cup, how is it they don’t have any money for public transport?” said Prazeres, quoted by newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo.
The strike will affect 4.5 million daily passengers and could unleash commuter chaos in the sprawling city of 20 million people, which was already hit by a paralyzing bus drivers’ strike last month.
Brazil has been gripped by a wave of strikes and protests ahead of the World Cup and elections in October.
About 12,000 protesters rallied by the Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST), a mainstay of the anti-World Cup protests, marched on Corinthians Arena Wednesday, joining around 400 retired military police and their relatives who were calling for higher pensions.
Protesters say the more than USD 11 billion being spent on the World Cup should have been used to help address urgent needs in education, health and transport. (PTI)
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