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More Than 10 Thousand Workers Opted to Go on an Indefinite Strike in the Construction Sector. The Stoppage Comes After the Non-Compliance of a Collective Agreement Signed Between Workers and Employers in April This Year, Generating Outrage Among Professionals in the Category.
The construction sector in João Pessoa woke up paralyzed, with silent construction sites last Monday (16). The reason: a strike initiated by more than 10 thousand workers in the capital of Paraíba, protesting against the non-compliance of a collective agreement mediated by the Labor Court less than two months ago. The movement, led by the Union of Construction Workers (Sintricom), is for an indefinite period.
According to the president of Sintricom, Francisco Demontier, the agreement made in April provided for a salary increase of 7.51%, improvements in the basic food basket, enhancement of breakfast, and negotiation of working hours together with the union.
However, the Union of the Construction Industry (Sinduscon-PB) backtracked and refused to implement the clauses signed.
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“Fifteen days after the signing, Sinduscon simply ignored the commitments made before the Labor Court and refused to comply with what was agreed,” said Demontier.
Disrespected Rights Fuel Outrage and Mass Participation
The workers’ adherence to the strike was immediate and massive. According to union leaders, the movement is not only about salary but also about dignity and respect.
The category denounces psychological pressure at the construction sites, the imposition of exhausting work shifts, and the inadequate provision of basic working conditions.
The mason Ítalo Jones lamented the situation:
“Today we are claiming our rights, just as we have always fulfilled our duties,” he said.
Roberto Pereira, a carpenter, emphasizes that the movement is the only possible way after failed dialogue attempts:
“It’s the only way to regain respect. We tried dialogue, but we were ignored. The stoppage is the last resort to demand that companies keep their word.”
Disrespected Agreement Was Mediated by the Court and the Public Prosecutor’s Office
What angers the category the most is the fact that the agreement was formally signed in the presence of a labor judge and a prosecutor from the Public Ministry of Labor.
Still, Sinduscon-PB, according to Sintricom, ignored the clauses and presented a new proposal that removes the negotiating power from the union, leaving all decisions to the companies.
“The favorable national scenario, with heated sectors and strong job creation, is being locally forgotten by the category – which remains mobilized until its rights are guaranteed. The construction sector is the foundation of all infrastructure and popular housing – an essential sector in the life of the worker. The strike denounces how capital historically refuses to value those who build the cities. Only collective pressure can compel the fulfillment of minimum improvements and a real return to dialogue with the workers,” emphasized Demontier.
Growing Sector Ignores Valuation of Professionals
Nationally, the construction sector is experiencing a moment of expansion. Just in 2024, the sector created 110,921 new formal jobs — a growth of 4.04% compared to the previous year. Since 2020, there have been over 800 thousand new formal vacancies in Brazil.
Paraíba has accompanied this good moment, with over 52 thousand workers formally employed in the sector and the construction sector standing out as the segment that grew the most in job vacancies in the state.
Still, according to union leaders, this economic advance has not reflected improvements for those who support the structures. surga slot
“The decision to strike was made due to Sinduscon’s lack of respect for the category. Even after a signed agreement, mediated by a labor judge and a prosecutor from the Public Ministry of Labor, the employer’s union backtracked. Fifteen days after the signing, Sinduscon simply ignored the commitments made before the Labor Court and refused to comply with what was agreed. The agreement provided for improvements in the breakfast offered to workers, delivery of the basic food basket, a 7.5% salary increase, payment of salary differences, and the definition of working hours with the union’s participation. However, Sinduscon violated all these points. In addition, it wants to impose an agenda that removes the union’s role in negotiations, leaving all decisions exclusively in the hands of the companies without listening to the workers,” highlights the president of Sintricom.
Strike Continues Indefinitely and Seeks Respect for Workers
Sintricom states that the strike will continue until all the terms agreed upon in April are fulfilled. The movement has no predicted end and is expected to directly impact public and private works in the capital and neighboring municipalities.
In addition to the stoppages, the union plans demonstrations and public acts to pressure Sinduscon-PB to resume dialogue and honor commitments.
The mobilization exposes a harsh reality of the sector: despite economic growth and the strategic importance of the construction sector for urban development, workers continue to fight for minimum working conditions and respect for their rights.
The construction strike in João Pessoa is not just an act of protest; it is a collective cry for justice, dignity, and recognition.
Amid the growth of one of the most important sectors of the national economy, workers demand the fulfillment of basic agreements that ensure adequate conditions to perform their functions. Until this happens, the construction sites remain halted, and the pressure is expected to continue increasing.
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