The United Steelworkers (USW) have formed a partnership with CUT Brazil, one of the country's largest industrial labour unions, to support workers in negotiations with Vale in both countries.
CUT's president Artur Henrique da Silva Santos and USW's international president Leo W. Gerard agreed to join forces July 17. Their main objective is the renewal of collective agreements in Canada and Brazil.
United Steelworkers Local 6500 president John Fera says the union's longstanding relationship with the CUT, which represents Vale workers in Brazil, will strengthen both unions, allowing them to exchange information when dealing with Vale Inco and approach negotiations in the most effective way.
"We've got a good rapport with them and good support for each other because
they're facing the same kind of problems that we're having," said Fera.
"You can't do this stuff alone. These companies are so huge now that you need to form your alliances and that's what we've done in Brazil."
The United Steelworkers have been in talks with several Brazilian unions for several years, but CUT is the largest. It has about 7 million members, compared to nearly 700,000 in the United Steelworkers.
In a news release, union leaders commented.
"The growing international support for the Canadian Vale Inco
workers sends a strong message regarding the importance of this fight,"
said Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers national director for Canada.
"With the current international financial crisis, workers don't need to pay for a crisis they didn't create," said Henrique da Silva Santos.
