Santos Dockworkers Challenge Hiring Agreement, Call for Job Recognition

Dockworkers at the Port of Santos gathered on Amador Bueno Street, in front of the building that accommodates the São Paulo State Port Operators Union (Sopesp), to protest against a collective labor agreement between the employers’ union and their category’s union. This agreement allows for the opening of a selection process to hire new workers.

“This is outrageous, an injustice,” said longshoreman Marcelo Venâncio. “Those jobs are ours. They need to recognize us.”

The protest took place last Friday (11) and is expected to resume this Tuesday (15). According to the dockworkers, they were informed that Sopesp representatives could only meet with them on this date after returning from Brasília. Most protesters told A Tribuna that they have been working in terminals outside the organized port of Santos since 2017 and are now seeking to be included in the labor-management body’s registry.

At the end of September, the unions representing longshoremen in Santos, São Vicente, Guarujá, and Cubatão (Sindestiva) and the São Paulo State Port Operators Union (Sopesp) signed a collective labor agreement (CCT), which aims to open 600 registration slots in the Labor Management Body of the Port of Santos (Ogmo Santos). The issue is that these slots are expected to be filled through a public selection process.

“We think it’s wrong because we’re already doing the job. They’re going to open a public selection process to hire people who’ve never worked in the port industry and have no experience,” said Halison Vaz dos Santos, a registered member of the longshoremen’s union and a spokesperson for the protesters. Another criticism is that the process will be open to applicants from across the country. “This public exam could hire people from other states, and those of us from the local region will be left unemployed.”

Fight for Recognition

According to Halison, there have been several attempts to negotiate with the São Paulo State Port Operators Union. The protesters are receiving legal support from attorney Luiz Antônio Passos da Silva, who represents the dockworkers. “All they want is justice. They’ve been working at the Port of Santos for over eight years, not in the organized port but on the periphery, providing services,” he said.

The attorney added that the dockworkers are currently limited to working at only one terminal outside the organized port, but with Ogmo registration, they could work at 40 terminals. The labor force is needed, yet they’ve gone unrecognized. “They’re opening a public selection process that covers all of Brazil, and the job notice doesn’t require experience. They’re creating vacancies for people who’ve never been to the Port of Santos or boarded a ship,” said Luiz Antônio.

What Sopesp Says

A Tribuna reached out to the São Paulo State Port Operators Union (Sopesp) to ask about their stance on the protest. However, in a statement, the union said it would not comment on the matter.

Source: A Tribuna

Click here to read the original news report: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/estivadores-do-porto-de-santos-protestam-contra-abertura-de-concurso-para-contratar-m-o-de-obra-a-vaga-e-nossa-1.437470

Sharing is caring!