2019 Brazilian general strike

2019 Brazilian general strike

Demonstration in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul,   Brazil
Native name	Greve geral de 2019
English name	General Strike of 2019
Date	June 14, 2019 (2019-06-14)
Location	Brazil — 26 states and Federal District
Type	General strike
Cause	Protest against pension reform, in defense of education, and for more jobs
Participants	Truck drivers, metalworkers, chemical workers, teachers, federal, state, and municipal public servants, health professionals, port workers, subway workers, and bank employees

The 2019 Brazilian general strike took place on June 14, two years after the general strike of April 28, 2017. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The movement was a protest against the pension reform of the Jair Bolsonaro administration and against cuts in education. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

By 8 p.m. that day, 189 cities in 26 states and the Federal District had reported protests. ^[7] Nineteen Brazilian state capitals had their bus systems affected, but considering other modes of transportation, the number of capitals affected reached 21. ^{[8] [9]}

Background

The main Brazilian trade unions decided at a meeting at the headquarters of Força Sindical, in the Liberdade neighborhood of São Paulo, to call a general strike in Brazil against the pension reform proposals put forward by President Jair Bolsonaro and implemented by Finance Minister Paulo Guedes. ^{[10] [11] [12] [13]} The date set for the protests was June 14, 2019, and was considered the union's first response to Jair Bolsonaro's victory. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Together with Força Sindical, several unions joined forces, such as Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT), ^[17] Central Geral dos Trabalhadores do Brasil  [ pt ] (CGTB), ^[18] Central dos Sindicatos Brasileiros (CSB), ^[18] União Geral dos Trabalhadores (UGT), ^[19] CSP-Conlutas  [ pt ], ^[20] and Intersidical. Social movements such as a Frente Brasil Popular  [ pt ] (FBP) e a Frente Povo sem Medo  [ pt ] (FPSM) also called for demonstrations. ^{[21] [22]}

Left-wing parties, such as the Workers' Party (PT), ^[23] Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), ^[24] Workers' Cause Party (PCO), ^[25] United Socialist Workers' Party (PSTU), ^[26] and Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) ^[27] supported and called on their party members to attend the demonstrations. ^[28] In the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper, union leader Vagner Freitas  [ pt ], from CUT, used his column in the trends/debates section to call on activists to join the May 1 strike: "Men and women who are invisible to the government today will hail the date of the general strike that will bring Brazil to a halt to stop one of the most blatant and cruel attacks on the rights of the working class" wrote Freitas. ^[29]

Protests

In São Paulo, politicians such as Fernando Haddad, Gleisi Hoffmann, and Guilherme Boulos participated in the event organized in the São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) space on Paulista Avenue. ^[30] In Rio de Janeiro, the meeting point was at the Candelária Church, which, according to organizers, mobilized 100,000 people. ^[31] In Rio, there were clashes between police and protesters. ^[32]

In Curitiba, demonstrations took place in front of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) building. ^[33] In Belo Horizonte, the city's subway line was shut down. ^[34] In Salvador, São Luís, Natal, and Brasília, strikes occurred on municipal bus lines. ^[35] On the day of the strike, six Porto Alegre Metro employees were arrested for setting fire to the train tracks at Sapucaia do Sul Station in Porto Alegre. ^[36] Also in the capital Porto Alegre, 50,000 protesters, according to organizers, began a march at Esquina Democrática  [ pt ] and then walked through several streets in the city center before dispersing at Largo Zumbi dos Palmares  [ pt ]. ^[37]

According to a report in the Valor Econômico newspaper, 123 cities across the country experienced work stoppages during the strike. ^[38] However, according to trade unions, 45 million workers in 300 cities joined the strike. ^[38]

Reactions

On social media, the event received extreme reactions, both favorable and unfavorable. Throughout the day, hashtags in support and opposition also led the most commented topics on Twitter (#AGreveFoiUmFiasco and #DemitaOGrevista — used by opponents; and #BrasilBarraReforma — used by supporters). ^{[39] [40]}

Opposition politicians released images of the strikes in the capitals and invited people to join the strike, while pro-government politicians raised their tone against the protesters and classified their actions as “terrorist acts.” ^[41] Writer Rodrigo Constantino, in the newspaper Gazeta do Povo , described the strike as “just another failed act of vandalism by vagabonds.” ^[42] João Paulo Rodrigues, from the National Coordination of the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), described the strike as “a great victory.” ^[43]

References

1. "Brazil: Violence erupts in Rio after general strike". BBC News . April 29, 2017. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
2. Romero, Simon (April 28, 2017). "Brazil Gripped by General Strike Over Austerity Measures (Published 2017)". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
3. Miranda, Cynthia Mara; Shuen, Li-Chang (2018). "Narrativas jornalísticas da greve geral da Argentina e Brasil de 2017: intrigas, conflitos e personagens". Intercom: Revista Brasileira de Ciências da Comunicação. 41 (3): 137–155. doi: 10.1590/1809-5844201838 . ISSN   1980-3508. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023.
4. "Brazil hit by general strike against pension reform". BBC News . 2019-06-14. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
5. "#14J: massive general strike in Brazil". IndustriALL. June 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
6. "Brazil cities paralysed as Bolsonaro faces first general strike". France 24 . June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
7. "Cidades brasileiras têm paralisação e protestos nesta sexta-feira". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
8. "Cidades brasileiras têm paralisação e protestos nesta sexta-feira". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on June 22, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
9. Santos, Jonatha Vasconcelos (December 31, 2021). ""Greve Geral! Greve Geral!": austeridade e protestos contra as reformas fiscais (2016-2019)". Mediações - Revista de Ciências Sociais (in Portuguese). 26 (3): 607–620. doi:10.5433/2176-6665.2021v26n3p607. ISSN   2176-6665. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025.
10. Pasquini, Patrícia (April 28, 2019). "Sindicatos preparam greve geral". Agora São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
11. Accarini, André (March 19, 2019). "Rumo à greve geral: 22 de março é dia de luta contra a reforma da Previdência". Central Única dos Trabalhadores (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on July 15, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
12. Benites, Afonso (October 22, 2019). "Com reforma da Previdência aprovada, Guedes mira salário de servidor público". El País Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 16, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
13. Bertoni, Estêvão (June 13, 2019). "O que está em pauta na 1ª greve geral no governo Bolsonaro". Nexo Jornal (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
14. "Greve Geral 14 de junho de 2019 - Contra a reforma da Previdência". Central Única dos Trabalhadores (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on April 16, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
15. Castelani, Clayton (May 1, 2019). "Centrais anunciam primeira greve da gestão Bolsonaro". Agora São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
16. "Bolsonaro enfrenta a primeira greve geral no Brasil". RTP1 (in Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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18. "Centrais sindicais convocam greve para dia 22 contra reforma da Previdência". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). March 13, 2019. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
19. Oliveira, Filipe (June 11, 2019). "Contra Previdência, centrais preparam greve e prometem parar transportes na sexta". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 19, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
20. "Em defesa da Greve Geral contra a reforma da previdência" (PDF). Central Sindical e Popular Conlutas. 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
21. "GREVE GERAL: Classe trabalhadora vai parar o país na sexta (14) : Fasubra Sindical". Federação de Sindicatos de Trabalhadores Técnico-administrativos em Instituições de Ensino Superior Públicas do Brasil. June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on July 18, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
22. "Minuto a Minuto | Greve Geral paralisa o país nesta sexta-feira (14)". Landless Workers' Movement (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on June 26, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
23. "Greve geral: chamado à militância petista". Fundação Perseu Abramo (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 13, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
24. Carvalho, Inácio (April 26, 2019). "1° de maio: PCdoB conclama unidade e luta em defesa da aposentadoria". Vermelho (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
25. "A mobilização deve levar a uma greve geral - Diário Causa Operária". Workers' Cause Party (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 17, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
26. "Confira o quadro da Greve Geral nesta sexta-feira (14) nos estados". United Socialist Workers' Party (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
27. "Em todo o Brasil, trabalhadores vão à greve e às ruas contra desmonte da previdência". Brazilian Communist Party (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 15, 2019. Archived from the original on February 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
28. "Centrais sindicais convocam Greve Geral para 14 de junho". Sindicato Nacional dos Docentes das Instituições de Ensino Superior (in Brazilian Portuguese). May 2, 2019. Archived from the original on June 1, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
29. Freitas, Vagner (May 1, 2019). "Opinião - Vagner Freitas: Rumo à greve geral contra a reforma da Previdência". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 28, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
30. "Greve geral: volta para casa tem estações do metrô fechadas em SP; acompanhe". Universo Online . June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
31. "RJ: Polícia Militar dispersa com violência ato pacífico contra reforma da Previdência". Brasil de Fato (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
32. Mendonça, Alba; Rodrigues, Matheus (June 14, 2019). "Protestos contra a reforma da Previdência no RJ têm atropelamentos e bombas; trânsito e transportes estão normais". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
33. "Greve geral acabou em Curitiba sem grandes incidentes". Tribuna do Paraná (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 15, 2019. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
34. "Greve geral em BH: estações do metrô amanhecem fechadas nesta sexta; ônibus circulam". Estado de Minas (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
35. Gama, Aliny; Medeiro, Carlos; Sabóia, Gabriel; Martins, Leonardo (June 14, 2019). "Greve paralisa todo o metrô em BH e os ônibus em Salvador e Brasília". Universo Online . Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
36. "Ônibus e trens funcionam parcialmente na manhã desta sexta no RS". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
37. "Milhares ocupam ruas centrais de Porto Alegre em protesto da greve geral". Correio do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). July 14, 2019. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
38. Freitas, Carolina; Felício, César; Delgado, Malu; Bitencourt, Rafael (June 14, 2019). "Greve geral tem atos em pelo menos 123 cidades do país". Valor Econômico (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
39. Santos, Juliana (June 14, 2019). "Nas redes sociais, reações à Greve Geral demonstram polarização; veja opiniões contra e a favor". Metro World News Brasil (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
40. "Apoiadores da greve geral passam a dominar disputa e lideram debate no Twitter". IstoÉ Dinheiro (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 14, 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
41. Wainer, Gabriel (June 14, 2019). "Opositores à greve fazem campanha por demissão de grevistas". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
42. Constantino, Rodrigo (June 14, 2019). "A "greve geral" é apenas mais um ato fracassado de vandalismo de vagabundos". Gazeta do Povo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on September 20, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
43. "Análise de Conjuntura | Vitórias da Greve Geral, Vaza Jato com FHC, mudanças no Governo Bolsonaro e calendário de lutas". Landless Workers' Movement (in Brazilian Portuguese). June 19, 2019. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2025.