Sao Paulo metro strike suspended, but fears loom ahead of World Cup
- 10 years ago
Monday started badly in Brazil's biggest city when police used tear gas to disperse striking workers.
Subway workers have been on strike for five days over pay increase demands.
They've caused widespread disruption and giant traffic jams in San Paulo just days before the city hosts the first football game of the World Cup.
But late on Monday, there was a slight turnaround as workers voted to suspend the strike.
There's still a possibility, though, that the walkout could be resumed.
Union leaders are set to restart negotiations on Wednesday and any decision, they say, depends on rehiring workers dismissed for striking.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) METRO WORKERS UNION PRESIDENT ALTINO DE MELO PRAZERES, SAYING:
"It was voted on at this moment that we return to work and that the strike is suspended and that we hold another assembly on the 11th. Maybe the strike will return on the 12th and this will depend on the readmission of the 42 workers who were f
Subway workers have been on strike for five days over pay increase demands.
They've caused widespread disruption and giant traffic jams in San Paulo just days before the city hosts the first football game of the World Cup.
But late on Monday, there was a slight turnaround as workers voted to suspend the strike.
There's still a possibility, though, that the walkout could be resumed.
Union leaders are set to restart negotiations on Wednesday and any decision, they say, depends on rehiring workers dismissed for striking.
(SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) METRO WORKERS UNION PRESIDENT ALTINO DE MELO PRAZERES, SAYING:
"It was voted on at this moment that we return to work and that the strike is suspended and that we hold another assembly on the 11th. Maybe the strike will return on the 12th and this will depend on the readmission of the 42 workers who were f