Rio de Janeiro's Heavy Construction Workers Trade Union (SITRAICP) "announced a strike on Monday," and more than 12,000 employees who work on Olympic construction sites "have halted all activities," according to the GAZETA PRESS. The reason for the strike is a push for an "adjustment to worker salaries and also a betterment of benefits." Although the strike does not include all workers, as SITRAICP must "maintain 30% of the workforce in key sectors" to guarantee public safety, it should "last until Friday" (GAZETA PRESS, 5/19). GLOBO ESPORTE's Leonardo Filipo reported in the northern part of the Deodoro Olympic Complex, the "standstill reached 50%" of all workers. At the Nílton Santos stadium, the "standstill occurred on the roof renovations, which should be totally ready in July." Strikers have "blocked the workers' entrance" to the stadium. Strikers are requesting "a 15% raise in salaries," plus a food basket -- a benefit that is given to employees who work more than 30 hours per week -- worth R$450 ($150). SITRAICP President Nilson Costa "believes the standstill will not harm Olympic construction." He said, "Businesses should have planned [for a possible delay] with the rise in the number of projects. ... They need to come up with a solution. As long as they don't blame the worker" (GLOBO ESPORTE, 5/19).
ON THEIR WATCH: SPORTV reported the SITRAICP strike "should last at the very most until Friday." Costa "believes that an agreement can be made before then." Costa: "I think if [bosses] were interested in solving the problem, we would be available 24 hours a day, and the workers agree. We've had some agreements before ... and we're at liberty to make other agreements so that the construction resumes and the movement is suspended. ... It was determined in a meeting that [the strike] would last for one week, until Friday, but if they do not listen to any negotiations during this period, the strike can continue indefinitely. We've received legal communication that has notified us of a meeting on Friday and we will wait until then to determine that (strike length of time)" (SPORTV, 5/19).
