International Day of Action in support of Lula – 23 April 2018

#StandWithLula

Declaration of the Workers' Group of the European Economic and Social Committee

The Workers’ Group of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is following with great concern the situation unfolding in the Federative Republic of Brazil. There have been serious attacks on the social, labour and trade union rights of Brazilian workers: a very tough labour reform that harms the social dialogue, hard won social rights have been cut, independent media have been closed and Brazil’s young democracy, obtained after 20 years of dictatorship (1964-1984), is threatened.

The EESC Workers’ Group wishes to express our full solidarity with former President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, an internationally respected leader in the fight against poverty and for workers' rights. We add our voices to those of the international trade union movement to demand that Lula should have a fair and independent judicial process which respects the rule of law, and that free, fair and democratic elections should be held in Brazil.

Our preoccupation, not only in Europe but around the world, is that the future of democracy is at stake. We also want to bring our support and solidarity to the workers of Brazil and elsewhere in the Southern-Cone which is again experiencing difficult times.

Work organisation