2018 Brazil truck drivers' strike

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Brazilian truckers' strike 2018 , also called diesel crisis , is an ongoing entrepreneur truck strike starting on May 21st.

The protesters demanded a drop in solar prices, exemptions from certain tolls, as well as legal and tax reforms linked to truck driving. Oil prices rose in Brazil after a 2016 policy change that kept oil prices afloat at international prices.

National road paralysis is causing shortages of food, medicine, and oil throughout Brazil, with long lines of vehicles to the gas station.

Video 2018 Brazil truck drivers' strike

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Starting at the end of 2016, oil prices in Brazil are rising due to policy terminations coming from Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff's requirements at the office. Under the reign of Michel Temer, the previous pricing policy that domestically sells oil lower than the international price is changed by state-owned oil company PetrobrÃÆ'¡s, to be sold at international market prices. Furthermore, the value of the dollar relative to the Brazilian real also rose in the weeks before the strike, raising the cost of domestic oil in local currency.

On May 18, 2018, truckers and Abcam (AssociaÃÆ'§ÃÆ' o Brasileira dos Caminhoneiros, Brazil Driver Association), which claims to have more than 600,000 members) threatened to start a strike if the government did not reduce the tax burden for diesel. Without a response from the government, the strike began on 21 May.

Maps 2018 Brazil truck drivers' strike

Timeline

18 to 20 May

On May 18, truck drivers announced the strike from May 21 if the government did not stop diesel price increases. The next day, PetrobrÃÆ'¡s announced a 0.8% price increase for diesel and 1.34% for gas, based on rising international oil prices and new corporate policies.

On May 20, Federal Justice prohibits any blockade from the federal highway in Paraná. This step was made by the General Counsel for the Federal Government (Advocacia Geral da Unià £ o) at the Federal Highway Police's request.

21 and 22 May

During the first day of the strike, some of the highways were partially or completely blocked. In some areas, tires are burned by truckers and others truck drivers live on the side of the road. Towards the end of the night, president Michel Temer meets with his cabinet members.

The airport warned of possible future problems with fuel, and car companies such as Ford, Chevrolet and Fiat also announced strike-related issues. To confront the strike, Secretary of Public Security Raul Jungmann announced the creation of a crisis cabinet.

23 and 24 May

On May 23, the airport started short on fuel; Infraero announced that airports like Congonhas and Recife International only have fuel for the day. As trucks halt fuel deliveries to gas stations and food deliveries to markets and other companies, prices are starting to rise. In Recife, gasoline reaches R $ 8.99 (about US $ 2.45) and in Rio de Janeiro a bag of potatoes can cost as much as R $ 500 (about US $ 136.30). On the same day, Abcam announced it would let trucks with livestock and medicines pass through the blockade until Friday the same week (May 25).

Temer called for a ceasefire for two or three days so the problem could be solved and PetrobrÃÆ'¡s announced that it would make solar 10% cheaper for fifteen days. According to the president of the company, Pedro Parente, the action was taken extraordinarily so the government could talk to truckers for fifteen days.

One day later, gasoline reached R $ 10 (about US $ 2.72) in the Federal District. On the same day, fewer buses circulated and the hospital began to experience minor problems due to lack of fuel and other equipment. The day was mainly marked by announcement by Chief of Staff, Eliseu Padilha, that the government had reached an agreement with representatives of truckers after a six-hour meeting. The deal involved a strike suspended for fifteen days and Jungmann said there were indications that the strike was actually locking and that the government would look into the situation.

May 25

Despite the announcement of the deal the previous day, Abcam disobeyed him and the driver's strike continued. Airports are starting to run out of fuel and cancel flights, federal universities are starting to suspend classes and the lack of fuel restricts ambulance circulation in some states and also causes non-emergency operations to be canceled in countries like Santa Catarina.

Temer criticized truck drivers who went on strike, calling them part of a "radical minority", and announced he would send troops to end the hurdles made by truckers. Meanwhile, the Brazilian Attorney General asked the Federal Supreme Court to declare the strike illegal. The Federal Supreme Court endorsed the use of force and imposed fines on those who refused to end roadblocks. By the end of the night, the government claims to have removed 45% of all roadblocks.

The cities of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre, as well as the state of Pernambuco, declare a state of emergency.

26 and 27 May

On Saturday, May 26, Minister Carlos Marun declared that the government would start fining any companies that did not comply with an agreement made to unblock the highway with an amount of R $ 100,000 per hour, and also said they believed the event was not a strike but a lockout. The state of Mato Grosso declared a state of emergency.

Non-urgent operations were canceled across the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Late in the afternoon, President Temer asked Henrique Meirelles to discuss measures to contain strikes with a special emphasis on tax reduction on solar (PIS/Confins) to zero. A group of autonomous truck drivers are called by the government to meet later that day. Teresina City declared a state of emergency.

At the end of the day, Temer makes a public statement outlining the steps to be taken: a reduction in diesel prices by R $ 0.46 per liter (for 60 days, after which only monthly adjustments will continue); tax suspension on a suspended axle on a federal highway; guarantees of autonomous truck drivers who get 30% of Conab tariff (Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento); and establishment of minimum delivery tables (the last two are temporary measures).

At this point, agricultural producers estimate that 64 million birds should be sacrificed for lack of food, while Guarulhos International Airport sees risks of fuel supply shortages over the coming week due to Wednesday's strike promised by PetrobrÃÆ'¡s workers.

May 28

Even after Temer's speech, many truck drivers continued to protest. The President of Abcam, JosÃÆ'Â © da Fonseca Lopes, said that truck drivers wanted to get back to work, the government gave them what they wanted and the strike had not stopped because "a group of interventionists wanted to overthrow the government". Unicam President JosÃÆ'Ã… © Araujo Silva says that many truckers still do not know about the deal but are being informed so they can stop with the strike. Gilson Baitaca, a member of the Wheat Mover Movement of Mato Grosso, said that truckers connected to his movement would begin to unblock the road but some autonomous drivers wanted other things. ClÃÆ'¡udio Ferreira from Fetrabens said he would meet with governor SÃÆ'Â £ Paulo discussing ways to anticipate the end of the strike in the state. The National Transportation Federation (CNT) informs that they believe the drivers' goals are achieved and that they now have to get back to work. The CNTA decides to let the union decide whether the strike should proceed or if it stops, but they are oriented to those who plan to continue allowing fuel, milk, food to go to school, products going to hospitals and trucks with civil defense stickers to pass.

The Ibovespa index fell in the morning, posting a 2.45% decline, and the dollar rising, reaching R $ 3.70. Several gas stations in Sao Paulo refused to accept fuel supplies because of threats that had been made during the days by supporters of the strike to prevent them from ending. In some parts of the blockade, some protesters drill truck tires to prevent the police from forcing them to move. President Abcam JosÃÆ'Â © da Fonseca Lopes said that an agreement with the government has been concluded and that from now on strike is not a matter of this institution or its autonomous truck driver, but the problem of political parties and "those who want to overthrow the government".

There are currently 556 (46%) active blockades across the country. During the day, the biggest listed impacts were on public transport and schools.

May 29

After nine days of the blockade, there is still a shortage of food supplies, especially the perishable ones, on the hypermarkets of 22 Brazil's capital cities. Rio's Ceasa operates with about 80 and 90% of its stores closed, and the lack of fuel at the gas station greatly affects the country's 15 capitals including SÃÆ'Â £ Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Federal police opened 48 questions for lockout investigations and arrest requests, but were all rejected by the courts.

There are currently 3 complete blockade and 616 small blocks still active, as well as many other parallel manifestations that support the truckers' struggle and add more claims to the overall action. The Federal Highway Police sends to AGU 176 vehicle ratings stopping on several highways, with a fine of R $ 100,000/hour for the company and R $ 10,000/day for individuals.

General Staff Admiral Ademir Sobrinho denies the intent of the Brazilian Armed Forces to attend a demonstration calling for military intervention on the state.

May 30

A truck driver was killed by a protester in RondÃÆ'Â'nia as he left the blockade and a suspect was arrested while in Sao Carlos, a TV team was attacked during protest coverage on Anhanguera Highway. Other criminal issues are being investigated by the Prosecutor's Office of coarse coercive techniques used by some protesters against truck drivers to complicate police work, such as dismantling the blockade by parking their trucks in difficult positions and keeping fuel trucks unreachable. Other acts are classified as abductions, as they are forbidden to leave.

The Federal Supreme Court ruled the fine in a total R $ 141.4 million divided between 96 â € <â € May 31

The Federal Police "Operation Unlocked", started the day before based on complaints, conducted 3 searches and 1 interim arrest warrant for a company suspected of supporting strikes. Several companies are accused by security minister Raul Jungmann to take advantage of the strike to pressure the government.

The government claims that the reduction in diesel prices will lead to R $ 3.4 billion in costs, which will result in increased taxes on exporters, soft drinks and the chemical industry and that some programs will experience cuts as well, including R $ 368.9 mi on transport, R $ 135 miles on SUS (Sistema ÃÆ'Å¡nico de SaÃÆ'ºde), R $ 55.1 mil for education, R $ 4.1 mi for prevention and repression in drug trafficking and R $ 1.5 mi in police. At this point the president has proposed 3 temporary measures: exemption from tolls on trucks with a suspended axle (attending one of the striker's goals); 30% Conab reserves (Companhia Nacional de Abastecimento), transported to autonomous truck drivers; and minimum shipping price setting. Eliseu Padilha, chief of staff of the Temer government, claims that gas stations refusing to reduce diesel prices will be fined up to R $ 9.4 mi.

The ANTT (AgÃÆ'ªncia Nacional de Transporte Terrestre) publishes a new minimum price table. ElisÃÆ' ¢ ngela Lopes, technical adviser for infrastructure and logistics at the CNA (ConfederaÃÆ'§ÃÆ' £ o de Agricultura e PecuÃÆ'¡ria), said it would make truckers' jobs more difficult, because compliance requires appropriate accounting and computer knowledge.

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Oil worker strike

During the events of the driver strikes, oil working in petrobras set themselves up for another strike aimed at resigning from the president of the company Pedro Parede, and reducing the price of fuel and cooking gas.

• On Sunday, May 27, oil workers began to join strikes and protests. Employee refinery "President GetÃÆ'ºlio Vargas" in ParanÃÆ'¡ protest in front of him.
• On May 29, the Superior Labor Court banned the promised strike. PetrobrÃÆ'¡s workers are scheduled to take place from Wednesday to Friday, claiming it is unconstitutional and rude and defining a penalty of R $ 500,000 per day in case of non-compliance. The strikers are protesting the reduction of fuel prices and gas cooking and the resignation of President Petrobra Pedro Parente.
• On May 31, the Federation of Petroleum Workers (FederaÃÆ'§ÃÆ'  £ o Å¡Å¡nica dos Petroleiros, FUP) recommended an end to the oil workers' strike, after the Federal Supreme Court increased the fines on the union.
• On June 1, Pedro Parente, president of PetrobrÆ' sinces since June 2016, requested his morning resignation for being pressured for his defense of the new price police since the beginning of his mandate, which has been the subject of criticism in recent weeks even inside the allied headquarters government, which was one of the primary motivations for the beginning of the strike. He claims in an open letter that "Few can see that it [the crisis] is a reflection of the chocks that reach the global economy, with domestic effects". His resignation shocked the ministers and other authorities. Pedro Parente said that his leadership had "ceased to be positive".

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Impact

Paulo Feldman, a professor at the University of SÃÆ'Â o o Paulo (USP), estimates a loss of at least R $ 30 billion of economic output caused by a five-day strike. Some of the most important impacts are:

• 11 airports have stopped their activities due to lack of fuel, and other airports have operated under critical conditions with many flights being canceled.
• Lack of fuel at gas stations across the country.
• Lack of food distribution in many areas and consequently an increase in food prices. In some cases, the store has imposed a per-buyer limit.
• Many exports from Brazil have been affected due to lack of distribution channels.
• Suspension of classes at schools and universities and suspension of the second phase of the OAB exam.
• Lack of staple products in supermarkets.
• Suspension of some procedures in some hospitals due to lack of medication.
• Suspension of production in 19 car factories.
• Milk disposal by some manufacturers due to lack of distribution that causes it damage.
• Reduced service by bus fleet.
• Risk of drinking water in the Federal District due to lack of products needed for its treatment.

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Statement and reaction

A telephone poll of 1500 adults by Datafolha on May 30 reported that 55% of Brazilians refused privatization of PetrobrÃÆ'¡s, 74% rejected possible sales for foreign investors and companies, and 87% of the population supported ongoing strikes and opposed cuts public budgets and tax increases to meet their demands, with 56% in favor that they should resume strikes for longer periods.

Despite the overall negative impact on the economy, some people benefit, like Uber drivers, who report their earnings doubled during the strike.

Politicians

Some Brazilian politicians, including potential candidates for the presidency in the upcoming election, commented on the crisis.

• ÃÆ' lvaro Dias supports the strike. According to him, the truck drivers have good reason to protest. Dias also stated that the strike can not be ignored and that the protest was a "rebellion of the whole nation".
• Ciro Gomes cited rising fuel prices as aberrations and criticized PetrobrÃÆ'¡s on Twitter.
• Geraldo Alckmin did not explicitly say whether he was striking or fighting, but he tried to offer a solution to the problem that caused the strike.
• Guilherme Boulos says that the fuel crisis is the result of the pricing policies of CEO CEO Peter Parente and Petrobra at PetrobrÃÆ'¡s, which is legalized to benefit shareholders. "Public companies must serve the people of Brazil and do not benefit half a dozen shareholders."
• Jair Bolsonaro declares support for truck drivers but criticizes the obstacles created by them. The deputy also opposes fines, imprisonment and seizure of truck drivers and calls for the withdrawal of this penalty if elected.
• JoÃÆ'Â £ o AmoÃÆ'ªdo did not explicitly say if he supported the strike or not but he called for privatization of PetrobrÃÆ'¡s, spending cuts and tax cuts as a solution to the problems that started the strike.
• Manuela d'ÃÆ' vila criticized Temer, calling his government illegitimate and saying that it has no authority over truck drivers.
• Marina Silva criticized the Temer government for not preparing a strike. He also criticized him for sending troops to end the blockade, calling it an "incompetent act". He also criticized Petrobrás.
• Paulo Rabello de Castro, an economist and pre-candidate, claims that the completion of the crisis requires the creation of a stabilized fund managed outside the government. The former president of BNDES also supports tax reform.

International

• Ã, United States: On May 24, the Department of Foreign Affairs mission to Brazil issued a security warning recommending Americans in Brazil take steps to ensure adequate water supplies, goods - domestic goods, and fuel. Warning warns that it may take some time for the situation in the country to shake back. It also recommends how to check road conditions online before traveling out of town, because the risk of vehicles running out of fuel.
• On May 25, Amnesty International condemned the use of soldiers against demonstrators and truck drivers who claimed that "freedom of expression is a human right", and French journal Le Monde also criticized this action, claiming that "this crisis exposes the fragility of the Government of Michel Temer".

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See Also

• Brazil's economic crisis since 2014
• The Michel Temer Presidency

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia