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A union official of CWA, Sandy Rusher, and a social movement activist, Stephen Lerner, visited the headquarters of Contraf -CUT, in São Paulo, where they met Brazilian unionists to discuss the international alliance that supports the organization of workers in the American financial sector.



"The aim was to assess the progress of the partnership, which has campaigned for the organization of American workers initially in New York / New Jersey and Florida / Miami," said Mario Raia, International Relations Secretary of Contraf-CUT.



"The impact of the bilingual union newsletter “O Espelho/The Mirror”, in February this year, had an enormous success. American workers were very receptive. We are optimistic about the expectation created," highlights Raia.





The newsletter, in Portuguese and in English, aims to inform and mobilize nearly 200 U.S. employees of Bank of Brazil on their rights and on other activities involving other banks in the United States.



The meeting discussed the next steps of the alliance, established in December 2012. "We will hold an exchange between Brazilian and American workers, so that they can know our union experience, which has been a benchmark for workers throughout the world," explains Mario Raia.



"Many international union organizations gave their support to the consolidation of the Brazilian union movement, and now we see a reversal in this trend. Today we are paying solidarity to other countries. We are optimistic and advancing step by step to help in the process of organization of American workers in the financial sector in a decisive way, "says the union leader.



Sandy pointed out that "working together is a great hope for the organization of American bank workers", since today they have no unions. Stephen made reference to the historical importance of the Brazilian contribution to the organization of the labor movement in the U.S. "The day when American bank workers find themselves organized, we will remember that the journey started with your help, Brazilian bank workers," he said.



Rita Berlofa, unionist of the Bank Workers Union of São Paulo, stressed that the alliance is an effective commitment of Brazilians with the organization of American workers.



The president of Contraf-CUT and UNI Americas Finance, Carlos Cordeiro, highlighted the importance of the alliance and welcomed the 75th anniversary of CWA. "Despite the great achievement represented by the national collective agreement of bank workers in Brazil, we must also hope to achieve more and to strengthen workers’ global struggles, seeking to guarantee the fundamental rights such as the right to organize, to collective bargain, for employment protection and for decent work, "he said.



Source: Contraf-CUT