News

CONTRAF Brazil held its second National Congress from April 14 to 16 in São Paulo, amidst significant changes in the organization’s leadership team. Vagner Freitas, President of UNI americas Finance, stepped down from his position as President and will be replaced by Carlos Cordeiro, a young unionist who served as Vice-President on the 1^st UNI Americas Youth Committee.



Carlos Cordeiro belongs to Banco Itaú, the largest financial conglomerate in the Southern hemisphere and a Latin American multinational (multilatina) that is already operating in South America, Japan, and Europe. The aim now, according to Vagner and Carlos Cordeiro, is to continue expanding and building recognition for the Confederation; in order to do this, CONTRAF will work to create a great Confederation of the Services sector in the field of CUT Brazil.



The new leader took office last April 17th and will hold this position leading the struggle of bank workers until 2012.



The highlight of the Congress was a broad international debate held by representatives from over 20 countries who discussed the financial crisis and its impact on the world of labor. A video was shown depicting the struggles of bank workers over the years and highlighting UNI’s support and presence during these struggles.



In a panel discussion on the crisis, Oliver Roethig, Head of UNI Finance, stressed: "This financial and economic disaster is about greed and the failure, once again of neo-liberal capitalism. For the unions, what is needed is a total overhaul of the business model and regulation of the finance industry and the global economic system as a whole."



"The results of the G20 summit on 2 April lead in the right direction. Yet, we must make sure that there is not only talk, but concrete action. UNI Finance, together with its affiliates in the Americas and worldwide, will fight for substantial change: we need re-regulation, a long-term and sustainable business model; we need a social and ethical responsible economic system."



At UNI we believe that Contraf’s renewal process is highly positive and can set an example for the rest of the trade union movement regarding the need to renew and maintain the competences and political ability to manage our organizations.



We are immensely satisfied with Contraf’s efforts and contributions towards the work carried out with multinational companies in Latin America and we hope to continue reaping the fruit of this work, particularly reaching Framework Agreements with Banco do Brasil and the National Federation of Banks, FENABAN. We wish to share this promising future and assure that we will continue walking side by side to ensure that UNI and CONTRAF continue having a leading role in the Trade Union Movement, particularly at this time of crisis in which we should work together to reform the International Financial System, knowing that currently Brazil is an important player and that its trade unions effectively have the capacity to intervene and put forward concrete proposals.



For further information, please contact: marcio.monzane@uniglobalunion.org