United Steelworkers Local 6500 president John Fera has announced the USW will be hosting unionized workers from Brazil in Sudbury Dec. 6.
USW International president Leo Gerard, along with other union representatives will meet with the Brazilian workers to discuss mutual concerns and future plans to work with CVRD-Inco workers throughout the world. Brazilian workers will also take a tour of one of CVRD-Inco's mines.
Local 6500 executive member Alex Patterson, Northeastern Ontario area coordinator Dan O'Reilly and researcher Charles Campbell were in Brazil from Sept. 10 to 14, 2006. They met with Brazilian unions that represent CVRD workers.
Meetings organized by the Central Unica Dos Trabalhadores (CUT), a major Brazilian labour federation, were held over two days, followed by a mining region tour and meetings with social and community activists.
The meetings produced an agreement to form a network of Brazilian CVRD unions and plans to continue contacts between the network and the steelworkers in Canada.
