Statement of the Brazilian Workers? Confederation (COB, a section of the IWA-AIT) opposing
the raising of public transit bus fares. ---- A bus fare of R$3.49 ? this is robbery! ----
The increased fare for public transit will now exceed 39% of the pay of workers earning
the national minimum wage, working 44 hours per week, and forced to spend part of their
wages on public transport (two trips per day). In financial terms, such expenses shouldn?t
exceed 30% of income. And what about the other needs of workers (food, water, electricity,
housing, rent, etc.)? ---- After June 2013, the cost of a trip rose 50 centavos from
R$2.45 to $R2.95 (an increase of 20.4%), which represented 39.11% of a worker?s income.
---- In 2015, with an increase in the minimum wage by 8.8%, the fare for a trip was
increased from $R2.95 to $R3.49, an increase of 18% ? out of whack with a worker?s earnings.
Regardless of the details of these calculations, a new increase in fares is not justified
if only because the previous tariff already exceeded 30% of a worker?s income. With
inflation at 6.5% this is a real rip-off!
At the same time, there has been no improvement in the equipment and travel conditions of
the buses either with regard to their capacity or the frequency of service.
By this increase the municipal authorities are simply ensuring maximum profitability for
the entrepreneurs, at the sacrifice of human labour.
We asking for everyone to energetically take up this cause. This fight should become a
struggle of social forces involving the entire spectrum of workers, students and the
community ? without parties and bosses!
Brazilian Workers? Confederation ? International Workers? Association
* * *
The seventh large action against raising fares in S?o Paulo took place on February 6 2015
and ended at 21:30 with the symbolic burning of a turnstile, which protestors had carried
along the entire route of the march to the train station at Dom Pedro Park, in the central
part of the city.
The march route had been decided on during an assembly held in front of the city hall. The
march began at 19:20. Participants marched through the Largo de S?o Francisco to Dom Pedro
Park. According to military police reports, members of the ?Black Bloc? were observed
among the demonstrators. However, the march was peaceful and no incidents were reported.
The increase from $R2.95 to $R3.49 came into effect on January 6 2015. ?Now is the time to
lower the boom? was written on banners of the Movement for a Free Ride, which has put
pressure on the prefecture [city hall] and the government with the goal of obtaining free
public transit for everyone.
Previously a major action took place on January 29 at the residence of the prefect [mayor]
Fernando Haddad in Para?so, along with the occupation of all intersections along 23rd of
May Avenue in the direction of Congonhas Airport. Demonstrators marched towards the
Legislative Assembly of the State of Sao Paulo and ended up at the [nearby] Monument to
the Bandeiras. The police reported incidents of graffiti and arrested two demonstrators
with spray paint
(http://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/noticias/manifestacao-em-sp-contra-aumento-de-tarifa-termina-pacifica)
http://libcom.org/news/s%C3%A3o-paulo-ongoing-demonstrations-against-transit-fare-hikes-09022015
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