Brazilian trade
unionist victimised: Solidarity needed
15 March On
March 12th, Ambev in Jacareí (São Paulo state) – the Brazilian
branch of AB InBev – sacked in “just cause” comrade Joaquim
Aristeu Benedito da Silva. The reason alleged by the company was
the fact that he published on the web page of CSP-Conlutas (a
trade union and popular movement federation) and on social
networks an article denouncing the company for an the accident
in the factory that led to the death of a young contract worker
aged 25 with a pregnant wife.
Joaquim exercised his basic right of expression
and also carried out his duty as a leading trade unionist and
member of the CIPA (health and work place security commission)
when the other health and safety officers wavered under the
pressure of the company. However, for the bosses, Joaquim was
“tarnishing the name of the company” and was summarily
dismissed, without any rights. Instead of investing in the
security of the workers, as this was just the most serious of
several other accidents in the company, the bosses prefer to
silence the one who is exposing the irregularities.
Joaquim had been working at AmBev – Jacareí for
23 years and has been a tirelessly militant fighter for workers’
rights for more than 30 years. He has been the president of the
Food and Beverages trade union in São José dos Campos and the
region. He was recently elected by the workers to a new term as
vice-president of the CIPA of AmBev – Jacareí. Besides that,
he’s a member of the Executive of CSP-Conlutas in the state of
São Paulo.
AmBev is the Brazilian subsidiary of the
multinational mega-corporation AB InBev - the worlds largest
brewery. It has companies in 32 countries with about 80 thousand
employees. The presence of Joaquim in the company has always
been a thorn in the side of the bosses. His dismissal took place
a few days before the attempt of the company to push through a
bad proposal for the annual profit bonus scheme. In the last
year, the workers at AmBev went on strike against the proposals
of the company and for better conditions, including issues
regarding safety and health of the workers.
Therefore, this is clearly a case of persecution
against the trade union organisation of workers in AmBev as a
part of a offensive from the employers against those who dare to
fight throughout the world in the middle of an international
capitalist crisis.
The task of fighting for the reversal of decision
of the company lies upon the whole trade union, popular and
student movement and the left and democratic political forces.
Because of that, we are calling upon all comrades to join this
campaign in Brazil and internationally especially in those
countries with AB InBev faactories.
Bring up this issue in your trade union branch,
movement or organisation and propose a resolution against the
sacking and demanding the reinstatement of comrade Joaquim
Aristeu Benedito da Silva. Send a copy of the resolution to the
company and the trade union.
Help also to spread the information about this
attacks from the bosses and the steps being taken by the
campaign to reassure the reinstatement of comrade Joaquim.
Send messages of protest to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Send copies to:
[email protected]
[email protected]
