Lula is greeted with protest from metal workers during his visit to Embraer.

The metalworkers’ union of the São José dos Campos region organized a protest early Friday afternoon (19), during the visit of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to Embraer. The demonstrators demanded that the federal government take action in favor of workers at the Embraer and Avibras companies located in Jacareí.

The event took place at the main entrance to Embraer, around 12 p.m. Afterwards, protesters marched toward the gate of the F300 hangar. The protest lasted about an hour. About 50 people participated in the event.

During his visit to the aircraft factory, President Lula announced financing from BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) for the export of 32 Embraer commercial aircraft, ordered by American Airlines.

The union is demanding that Lula’s government withhold benefits from Embraer until the company signs the collective agreement for metal workers. Embraer last signed the document in 2017, and it only came into effect in 2018. Without signing, workers lose rights they have acquired over decades.

Avibras

Protesters also called on Lula to intervene in the precarious situation of Avibras workers, who are 15 months behind on their salaries, in a strike that began in September 2022. The union argues that the government is advancing payments on contracts with the company, which would allow the workers to receive the salaries of the nearly 1,000 workers at the plant.

“It is absurd for the government to invest public money in a company that ignores workers’ rights and, at the same time, turns a blind eye to the crisis in Avibras. That is why we demand that Lula take effective action.Acting President of the Federation Valmir Mariano says.

Information from the Metal Workers Union of São José dos Campos and the Region