New York State AFL-CIO Defends Democracy and Labor Rights in Brazil Demanding Immediate Release of Labor Leader and Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Manhattan, NY – At a meeting of the state federation’s Executive Council on Tuesday, August 21, 2018, the New York State AFL-CIO unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the immediate release of former Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as “Lula” following his imprisonment on April 7, 2018.

The resolution’s passage brings together public sector, private sector and building trades unions in a united front to restore workers’ rights, defend democracy, free Lula and ensure he will be allowed to run for president in the upcoming election in October.

As the resolution points out, Lula was convicted of corruption without adequate evidence of wrongdoing and in violation of Brazilian law, the Brazilian Constitution and international human rights law all in an attempt to keep him off the ballot in the 2018 presidential elections.

“This resolution, unanimously adopted by our Executive Council sends a powerful message,” said Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO.

“The labor movement is speaking with one very clear voice in denouncing the anti-worker, racist, violent and environmentally devastating policies of Michel Temer, the current unelected president who seized power. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters of the Brazilian labor movement in their fight for fairness and for a voice in their workplaces. We thank our brother Stuart Appelbaum for raising awareness to the struggles in Brazil and standing up for Brazilian workers and Brazil’s democracy.

“At a time when we are witnessing attacks on democracy, social justice and working people at every turn and in so many places, it is more important than ever before that we stand up and fight back together. President Lula’s imprisonment is a direct assault on the working people of Brazil. We will not simply watch as those who want to undo the rights of workers break the rules to move backward. The resolution of the NYS AFL-CIO to free Lula and its demand for a fair election is clear – the labor movement opposes any attempt to take away people’s rights to choose their leaders," said Stuart Appelbaum, NY State AFL-CIO Vice President. Last week, Appelbaum, also President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), and co-chair of the AFL-CIO’s International Committee was in Brazil as part of the contingent that delivered Lula’s candidacy papers to the electoral court to run for President.

###

The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. Our State Federation, which is the largest and most diverse in the country, is committed to helping working families achieve a better life. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.