WCCA Brésil – CUT fait appel pour l’amendement de la loi générale sur la Coupe Mondiale en vue de soutenir les vendeurs de rue

En écrivant récemment à la Commission Spéciale de l'Assemblée Nationale mis en place pour examiner le projet de loi générale sur la Coupe du monde, le Central des Travailleurs Unis  (CUT) a érigé à une série de modifications proposées conçu pour fournir des garanties plus fortes pour la protection des droits des travailleurs. La première clause se réfère aux vendeurs de rue:

"La délimitation des zones d'exclusion autour des sites de compétition officielle ne fera pas préjudice aux  activités des vendeurs de rue autonomes qui possèdent des autorisations et / ou un enregistrement dans la municipalité respectif pour entreprendre la vente de rue. »

CUT justifie cette proposition de modification en citant la Constitution fédérale qui protège les droits acquis et le droit à la liberté d'exercice d'une profession.

D'autres amendements proposés et soumis pour la considération de la Commission spéciale comprend toutes les garanties pour le droit de se manifester et de faire la grève, respect des conventions collectives et une clause stipulant que tous les fournisseurs et pourvoyeurs de services de la Coupe du monde exigera un certificat garantissant qu'ils n'utilisent pas de travail forcé, travail des enfants ou autres formes du travail dégradant.

CUT propose également qu'un certain nombre de billets soient réservés à des tarifs réduits pour les groupes à faible revenu, y compris les peuples autochtones et les travailleurs de la construction qui ont travaillé sur la rénovation des stades.

WCCA Brasil – CUT pede emendas ao Projeto de Lei Geral da Copa para apoiar os vendedores ambulantes

Com base numa revisão da Lei Geral da Copa feita junto com Comissão Especial da Assembléia Nacional, a Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT) reuniu várias propostas de emendas, visando oferecer garantias mais sólidas quanto à proteção dos trabalhadores.

A primeira cláusula refere-se a vendedores de rua:

"A delimitação das zonas de exclusividade relacionadas aos  Locais Oficiais de Competição não prejudicará as atividades dos vendedores autônomos e ambulantes  que possuem autorização e/ou cadastro nas respectivas prefeituras para o comércio nas ruas."

A CUT justifica esta proposta de emenda, citando a Constituição Federal, que
protege os direitos adquiridos e o direito de livre exercício de uma profissão.

Outras propostas de emenda encaminhadas para apreciação da Comissão Especial
incluem garantias do direito de manifestação e de greve, respeito pelo
convenções coletivas, e há uma cláusula estipulando que a cadeia de fornecedores e prestadores de serviços da FIFA não apresentem casos de trabalho escravo, trabalho infantil ou degradante.

CUT propõe também que um número de bilhetes ser reservados a preços reduzidos para  grupos de renda baixa, incluindo os povos indígenas e trabalhadores da construção civil que havia sido trabalhando na construção do estádio.

Brasil: Acción violenta de la policía para destruir puestos de vendedores ambulantes en el Centro de Sao Paulo.

El 25 y  26 de octubre, más de 400 policías militares se trasladaron a la zona del mercado de la madrugada en el  centro de Sao Paolo, Brasil para destruir los puestos y confiscar los  bienes de más de 7000 vendedores ambulantes que trabajan allí entre las 2 am  a las 6am. El mercado es un gran centro comercial y atrae a más de  30.000 personas cada día, incluyendo los compradores al por mayoreo de otros Estados de Brasil, como Belo Horizonte, Curitiba y Paraná. Ha estado operando durante los últimos 8 años. Normalmente, más de 200 autobuses turísticos visitan la zona diariamente. Dicha cantidad fue reducida drásticamente a medida que las noticias de la acción de la policía fueron difundidos en los principales canales de televisión y periódicos.

Los vendedores ambulantes fueron consternados por la actitud intransigente de las autoridades municipales y la brutalidad policial. El Sindicato Independiente de Vendedores Ambulantes de Sao Paolo (SINCISP), organizó una marcha de protesta pacífica a través del área llamada "Los Vendedores Ambulantes No Somos Ladrones". Los asesores legales del Sindicato, Lessi y Lessi, establecen que hubo claros casos de abuso de autoridad por los agentes de policía, incluyendo casos documentados de vendedores que fueron golpeados.

Leonardo Dunas, el Secretario General de SINCISP, sostiene que el mercado ha estado operando con el acuerdo tácito de los dueños de las tiendas en la zona y del municipio durante muchos años. Además, los reglamentos municipales permiten la venta ambulante. El mercado actualmente genera empleo para miles de familias. El Sindicato ha pedido a las autoridades municipales  que regule y formalice las operaciones del mercado, que beneficiarían a ambos, los proveedores y las autoridades públicas.

Mientras que SINCISP condena los pocos proveedores del comercio de productos de contrabando, la gran mayoría de los vendedores tienen  mercancías legales. La acción policial efectivamente les ha dejado sin una fuente de ingresos para sus familias. El SINCISP, junto con la Comisión Organizadora de Vendedores Ambulantes de Sao Paulo y otras organizaciones, han presentado una serie de propuestas relativas a la regulación del mercado, incluyendo los cursos de capacitación para los proveedores, la posibilidad de registrarse como una micro -empresa, el acceso a micro-créditos y enmiendas a las leyes municipales. Hasta la fecha, las autoridades municipales no están dispuestas a discutir estas propuestas.

"Parece que puede haber intereses políticos en juego. Hay planes para desarrollar la zona y construir un complejo hotelero y comercial. Ciertamente, algunos inversionistas podrían tener en mente la Copa del Mundo 2014, no sabemos", dijo Leonardo Dunas. "Estamos aquí para denunciar la brutalidad de la policía, para defender el derecho al trabajo y los derechos de miles de familias que quieren ganarse la vida honestamente", añadió.

Brazil: Violent police action to destroy street vendors stalls in Central Sao Paolo

On 25and 26 October, over 400 military police moved into the early market area in Bras, Central Sao Paolo to break up stands and confiscate goods of the over 7000 street vendors who work there between 2am and 6pm.  The market is a large commercial hub and attracts up to 30,000 persons every day, including wholesale buyers from other States of Brazil, such as Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Parana.  It has been operating for the last 8 years. Normally, over 200 tour buses visit the area on a daily basis.  That number was reduced drastically as news of the police action was reported on the main TV channels and newspapers.

Street vendors were shocked at the intransigent attitude of the Municipal authorities and the police brutality.  The Trade Union of Independent Street Vendors of Sao Paolo (SINCISP), organised a peaceful protest march through the area calling out “street vendors are not thieves”.  The union’s legal advisers, Lessi and Lessi, state that there were clear cases of abuse of authority by the police officers, including documented cases of vendors who were badly beaten and bruised.

Leonardo Dunas, the Secretary General of SINCISP, argues that the market has been operating with the tacit agreement of both the shop owners in the area and the municipality over many years. As well, the Municipal By-Laws allow street vending.  The market currently generates employment for thousands of families. The trade union has called on the Municipal authorities to regulate and formalize the market operations, which would benefit both the vendors and the public authorities.

While SINCISP condemns the few vendors who trade in counterfeit goods, the great majority of vendors are trading legal merchandise. The police action has effectively left them without a source of income for their families. SINCISP, together with the Organizing Commission of Street Vendors of Sao Paolo and other organisations, have put forward a series of proposals concerning the regulation of the market, including training courses for vendors, the possibility to register as a micro-business, access to micro-credits and amendments to municipal by-laws. To date, the municipal authorities are not willing to discuss these proposals.

“It seems there may be political interests at play.  There are plans to develop the area and build a hotel and commercial complex. Certainly, some investors might have the 2014 World Cup in mind, we don’t know”, said Leornardo Dunas. “We are here to denounce policy brutality, to defend the right to work, and the rights of thousands of families who want to make an honest living,” he added.  

Brazil:Meeting of Informal Vendors from World Cup Host Cities adopts Declaration of Demands

Inauguration of street vendors' forum by Oscar Silva, President of SttreetNet International

Participants at the Forum at the CSA,Sao Paolo, 26th October 2011

A meeting of street vendors organisations from seven of the World Cup host cities was convened by StreetNet International in Sao Paolo on 26th October and held in the conference centre of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA/CSA). The meeting was opened by Ramon Smezeta, Play Fair campaign coordinator of the CSA who welcomed the opportunity to meet the informal vendors'organisations, saying that the CSA doors were always open to workers' organisations from both the formal and informal economy.  Oscar Silva, the President of Street Net International, expressed solidarity with the Brazilian informal vendors and his conviction that the organisations would grow in strength and be able eventually to form a national network.

The meeting heard about the World Class Cities for All Campaign and the plans that the informal vendors had drawn up during a two day workshop which had preceded the meeting. During 2012, it is planned to hold a series of training events on leadership, advocacy and communication techniques at municipal level, develop an exchange programme between the host cities and set up an electronic information network which can also be used to denounce human rights violations.

The meeting also heard testimonies from street vendors from 3 cities: Sao Paolo, Salvador and Rio.  In Sao Paolo, over the last two days, the military police had mounted a large-scale operation to close down the stalls of street vendors with widespread use of violence, arrests and confiscation of goods at the early morning market in Bras, in the centre of the city. In Salvador, the informal market vendors are calling for the municipality to creat a popular shopping centre as the situation in the historic centre is becoming more and more difficult.  In Rio, Maria, a street vendor in the centre of the city, told of the brutal treatment she had been subjected to by the police. 

Both the United Workers Centre (CUT) and the Building and Wood Workers International, expressed their interest in accompanying the demands of the street vendors.  Other representatives also expressed their support for the street vendors, including the Popular Committee of those Affected by the World Cup, the Coordination of Popular Movements (CMP), and the World Women's March. 

The Forum Declaration is annexed below. 

 

Final Declaration:  World Class Cities for All Campaign Street Vendors Forum

Another World Cup is Possible:  Respecting the rights of street vendors

Sao Paolo, 26^th October 2011

Convened by StreetNet International, the Forum on Street Vendors and the 2014 World Cup, brought together representatives of street vendors’ organisations from host cities, trade union representatives, social movements, and other organisations. 

Street vending is a consequence of unequal development and a survival strategy for some of the poorest urban communities. Street vendors are self-employed workers, seeking to earn an honest living and to maintain themselves and their families.  Street vendors’ contribution to the urban economy should be recognised and valued, and their rights respected and their obligations regulated fairly. 

The participants heard testimonies from street vendors that as preparations for the World Cup get under way:

·         Municipalities are either withdrawing or not renewing existing licenses to trade.   Municipalities are not issuing new licenses to trade in the centres of the host cities. Many street traders are therefore left in a legally precarious situation, the prey to arbitrary treatment and other forms of abuse.

·         In some cities, there is an increase in  police crackdowns against street traders, including the confiscation of their goods without compensation or return; fines, and on some occasions, there are incidents of physical violence and imprisonment;

·         Local and national media do not publish information when street vendors’ organisations wish to denounce acts of repression or present their demands;

·         Municipalities are enforcing outright bans on trading in the centres of the cities, particularly in the areas frequented by tourists;

·         Municipalities have created popular shopping centres as alternatives to street trading but in many cases fail to take into account the real numbers of street traders, and street vendors’ organisations do not participate in the design, development and administration of the centres;

Participants also heard that:

·         municipal programmes to develop popular shopping centres are only successful if they are developed and designed in consultation with the representative street vendors’ organisations and administered with their participation.

·         Street vendors are concerned at the lack of consultation and information available to them about the infrastructure projects planned for the World Cup;

·         Street vendors are equally concerned at the lack of information concerning the plans to develop exclusion zones around the Stadiums and the fan parks as part of the General Law of the World Cup (Ley Geral da Copa)  currently being negotiated by the government.

The Forum therefore agreed to call upon the Host Cities and the Federal Government to meet their commitments to work with the poorest urban populations to provide decent work for all and:

(1)    call a halt to the despicable policy of depriving traders of licenses and prohibiting trading in city centres;

(2)    provide public resources for the creation of spaces for informal traders, for example, through popular shopping centres, markets, and other spaces taking into account local needs and characteristics;

(3)    convene meetings with the representative organisations of street vendors to consult with them about the impact of the proposed infrastructure and urban renewal programmes as a result of the World Cup;

(4)    ensure that suitable  relocation plans are drawn up in consultation with street vendors’ organisations where their traditional trading places are taken away as a result of those projects;

(5)    develop social solidarity economy projects as alternatives for street traders who are interested;

(6)    oppose plans to create exclusion zones around the proposed fan parks during the World Cup which would deprive local street vendors of economic opportunities in favour of the official multinational sponsors of the World Cup;

(7)     

The Forum further agreed:

(1)    to work in collaboration with the street vendors’ organisations to support their demands and to join with them in denouncing acts of abuse and violence on part of the municipal authorities.

(2)    To work collaboratively to support campaigns for decent work, fair play, housing rights transparency and other initiatives designed to ensure that the 2014 World Cup has a social legacy to benefit all Brazilians.

Another World Cup is Possible!

Nothing for us without us!

Sao Paolo 26^th October 2011

MUCA                                           ASFERAP                                ACCPO-PO

Rio de Janeiro                                 Porto Alegre                           Porto Alegre

SINDFEIRA                                 SICVAM                                      CUT/AM

Manaus                                         Manaus                                     Manaus

              APROVACE                                   ASFAERP                                     AEFO

Fortaleza                                        Salvador                                Rio de Janeiro

ABFEST                                        ABAEM                                  SINTEMEI

Salvador                                    Belo Horizonte                          São Paulo

Coop. Itaquera                    AAB                                  M.M.C                         UNADEF   

São Paulo                          São Paulo                            São Paulo                         São Paulo

Gaspar Garcia Centre for Human Rights                                                    

São Paolo

Trade Union Confederation of the Amercias

TUCA

STREETNET    INTERNATIONAL

Final Declaration:  World Class Cities for All Campaign Street Vendors Forum

Another World Cup is Possible:  Respecting the rights of street vendors

Sao Paolo, 26^th October 2011

Convened by StreetNet International, the Forum on Street Vendors and the 2014 World Cup, brought together representatives of street vendors’ organisations from host cities, trade union representatives, social movements, and other organisations. 

Street vending is a consequence of unequal development and a survival strategy for some of the poorest urban communities. Street vendors are self-employed workers, seeking to earn an honest living and to maintain themselves and their families.  Street vendors’ contribution to the urban economy should be recognised and valued, and their rights respected and their obligations regulated fairly. 

The participants heard testimonies from street vendors that as preparations for the World Cup get under way:

·         Municipalities are either withdrawing or not renewing existing licenses to trade.   Municipalities are not issuing new licenses to trade in the centres of the host cities. Many street traders are therefore left in a legally precarious situation, the prey to arbitrary treatment and other forms of abuse.

·         In some cities, there is an increase in  police crackdowns against street traders, including the confiscation of their goods without compensation or return; fines, and on some occasions, there are incidents of physical violence and imprisonment;

·         Local and national media do not publish information when street vendors’ organisations wish to denounce acts of repression or present their demands;

·         Municipalities are enforcing outright bans on trading in the centres of the cities, particularly in the areas frequented by tourists;

·         Municipalities have created popular shopping centres as alternatives to street trading but in many cases fail to take into account the real numbers of street traders, and street vendors’ organisations do not participate in the design, development and administration of the centres;

Participants also heard that:

·         municipal programmes to develop popular shopping centres are only successful if they are developed and designed in consultation with the representative street vendors’ organisations and administered with their participation.

·         Street vendors are concerned at the lack of consultation and information available to them about the infrastructure projects planned for the World Cup;

·         Street vendors are equally concerned at the lack of information concerning the plans to develop exclusion zones around the Stadiums and the fan parks as part of the General Law of the World Cup (Ley Geral da Copa)  currently being negotiated by the government.

The Forum therefore agreed to call upon the Host Cities and the Federal Government to meet their commitments to work with the poorest urban populations to provide decent work for all and:

(1)    call a halt to the despicable policy of depriving traders of licenses and prohibiting trading in city centres;

(2)    provide public resources for the creation of spaces for informal traders, for example, through popular shopping centres, markets, and other spaces taking into account local needs and characteristics;

(3)    convene meetings with the representative organisations of street vendors to consult with them about the impact of the proposed infrastructure and urban renewal programmes as a result of the World Cup;

(4)    ensure that suitable  relocation plans are drawn up in consultation with street vendors’ organisations where their traditional trading places are taken away as a result of those projects;

(5)    develop social solidarity economy projects as alternatives for street traders who are interested;

(6)    oppose plans to create exclusion zones around the proposed fan parks during the World Cup which would deprive local street vendors of economic opportunities in favour of the official multinational sponsors of the World Cup;

(7)     

The Forum further agreed:

(1)    to work in collaboration with the street vendors’ organisations to support their demands and to join with them in denouncing acts of abuse and violence on part of the municipal authorities.

(2)    To work collaboratively to support campaigns for decent work, fair play, housing rights transparency and other initiatives designed to ensure that the 2014 World Cup has a social legacy to benefit all Brazilians.

Another World Cup is Possible!

Nothing for us without us!

Sao Paolo 26^th October 2011

MUCA                                           ASFERAP                                ACCPO-PO

Rio de Janeiro                                 Porto Alegre                           Porto Alegre

SINDFEIRA                                 SICVAM                                      CUT/AM

Manaus                                         Manaus                                     Manaus

              APROVACE                                   ASFAERP                                     AEFO

Fortaleza                                        Salvador                                Rio de Janeiro

ABFEST                                        ABAEM                                  SINTEMEI

Salvador                                    Belo Horizonte                          São Paulo

Coop. Itaquera                    AAB                                  M.M.C                         UNADEF   

São Paulo                          São Paulo                            São Paulo                         São Paulo

Gaspar Garcia Centre for Human Rights                                                    

São Paolo

Trade Union Confederation of the Amercias

TUCA

STREETNET    INTERNATIONAL