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Closing of Industrial Unit in Suzano Triggers Mass Dismissals, Raises Union Criticism Due to Lack of Reallocation and Prolonged Assistance, and Opens Discussion About Possible Legal Actions, While Company Asserts That Decision Integrates Strategic Reorganization and Does Not Affect Customers.
Suzano S/A has halted operations at the Rio Verde unit, located in the Miguel Badra neighborhood of Suzano (SP), on Monday (5).
With the shutdown, about 90 workers were dismissed, according to information from the Paperworkers Union of Mogi das Cruzes and Region.
The union claims that the closure occurred without a reallocation plan and that there is concern about the maintenance of benefits for employees undergoing medical treatment.
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In an official statement, the company informed that the decision is part of a strategic reorganization process, focusing on the Paper and Packaging Business Unit (UNPE) in Brazil and international operations.
Suzano also declared that the laid-off employees are receiving assistance and that the closure of the unit does not compromise customer service, as the production of the portfolio will be redistributed among other factories.
On the other hand, the union maintains that the process was conducted with limited prior notice and mass layoffs, without prior negotiation.
The union also states that it is considering legal action, including a lawsuit for collective moral damages and a request to nullify the dismissals if there is no progress in negotiations regarding assistance for workers.
Communication of the Closure and Dismissals
According to the president of the Paperworkers Union of Mogi das Cruzes and Region, Marcio Cruz, known as Bob, the entity was informed about the closure via email at the end of the afternoon on Friday (2).
He stated that the message indicated that employees would be called in at 8 AM on Monday (5) to receive the official communication and begin the termination procedures.
“They informed that all employees would be called at 8 AM on Monday to make the official notice and the contract terminations. This unit was the smallest in the group and had about 140 workers. Of these, more than half were laid off,” the union leader stated.
The numbers related to personnel also appear differently in public statements.
The union claims that the unit had about 140 workers and that approximately 90 were dismissed.
Meanwhile, Suzano did not specify, in the press releases, the exact number of employees laid off with the factory’s closure.
Debate on Reallocation and Post-Dismissal Assistance
Another central point raised by the union is the absence of transfer proposals to other units of the group.
Marcio Cruz argues that Suzano has several plants in the country and that, in the union’s assessment, alternatives for reallocation could have been presented for some of the workers.
“The union’s main criticism is this. There are 14 units in Brazil. They could have at least had the sensitivity to say, ‘Do you want to go to Imperatriz? We have a job offer for that place,’ so as not to create this social and psychological chaos that it has created for the workers,” he said.
In addition to the discussion about reallocation, the union reports that some of the laid-off workers are undergoing continuous medical treatment.
According to the entity, this situation reinforces the need for temporary maintenance of medical benefits and other assistance after dismissal.
Union representatives report that two meetings have been held with the company since the announcement of the closure. So far, according to the entity, no agreement has been reached.
Union Demands and Possibility of Legal Actions
The agenda presented by the union includes, at a first level, the maintenance of medical benefits and basic food assistance for three months for the dismissed workers.
According to the entity, the request is urgent and seeks to guarantee a minimum transition period following the termination of employment.
At the same time, the union advocates a broader package.
The proposal includes three years of health insurance, three years of basic food assistance, and financial compensation proportional to the length of service, calculated as one nominal salary per year worked.
The entity also states that it is considering going to court to attempt to suspend or nullify the dismissals as long as negotiations are incomplete.
In its statement, the union informs that it aims to “nullify the dismissals at least while negotiations with the company are underway.”
If there is no agreement, the entity states that it is studying lawsuits for collective moral damages and other legal measures related to the dismissals.
Position of Suzano on the Closure of the Unit
In an official statement, Suzano informed that “after detailed analysis” it decided to close the Rio Verde (SP) factory.
The company stated that the strategy involves the concentration of activities in UNPE in Brazil, mentioning the factories in Suzano, Limeira, and Mucuri.
The international operations located in Pine Bluff and Waynesville were also mentioned.
The company declared that the closure required “adjustments to the team” and reiterated that all laid-off employees are receiving assistance.
In the same communication, Suzano mentioned that the decision will not impact customer supply, with production being redistributed among other paper and packaging units.
When questioned by the press about the union’s demands, the company stated that it is analyzing the proposals presented, without detailing timelines or conditions for a possible agreement.
Central Issues of the Impasse Between Company and Union
The discussion between the parties focuses on the format of the unit’s closure and the scope of post-dismissal assistance.
The union acknowledges that closing a factory is a business decision provided for by law.
Nevertheless, the entity questions the conduct of the process and the extent of the measures adopted.
“Is it legal for the company to close? Yes. Is it legal for the company to pack up and move to another location? Yes. But what we are questioning is the way Suzano did it and the necessity of that,” stated Marcio Cruz.
Suzano, in turn, maintains that the decision was preceded by internal evaluation and that workers are being assisted.
No details have been publicly disclosed, however, about the duration and type of benefits maintained after dismissal.
With layoffs already implemented and negotiations ongoing, union and company continue talks that may advance to the judicial sphere should no agreement be reached.
Lendo aqui, alguns comentários, parece que tem sócios da Suzano escrevendo. Esta empresa fatura bilhões ao ano e o salário destes trabalhadores desta unidade não deve custar nem 1% ao faturamento da empresa, muito destes coitados nem sabe como vão pagar as suas dividas no ano de 2026. Mas como diz aquele velho ditado… ” Fazenda que tem ****, cavalo não carrega cangalha “…. Parece que a indústria, achou uma peaozada para defende-la.
Uma das responsáveis pela destruição do rio Tietê, assim como outras, destroem, lucram e cai fora
Quero ver quantos o sindicato vai empregar,
Bora fazer o L ****!