Judicial authorities have issued threats to imprison the workers and militants occupying the Cipla and Interfibra factories in the city Joinville (state of Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil). We publish below the press release that was issued by the Factory Council of Cipla/Interfibra, for the information of all labour organisations, as well as workers and labour activists. (April 2005)
A Leader of Cipla/Interfibra Is Threatened with Imprisonment!
From the very moment they took control of the bankrupted and closed
factories to save their jobs, the workers of Cipla/Interfibra have been
faced with threats of all sorts – from the threat of having the closed
factories' machinery auctioned off to the highest bidder, thereby
destroying the industrial plant and the jobs of the workers, to the
threat of arrest and imprisonment of its leaders.
Now, at a time when the negotiations are under way with the Labor
Courts over the social debts of the factories, the Factory Council has
just been issued a threat by two agencies of the federal government,
which, despite pledges over the past two years to help the workers, has
done nothing to help.
The Ministry of the Economy and the Social Security Department are now
demanding the payment of millions of reais [Brazil's currency] – a
demand that was never made of the bosses when they administered the
factories. The federal government is threatening to repossess machinery
and a percentage of current sales income to pay off the back debt owed
by the former owners. Failure to pay off the owners' back debts could
result in heavy prison sentences for the leaders of the occupied
factories. The federal courts are insisting that 30 million reais [or
US$11 million] be paid as a first installment.
On March 29, seven officers of the Federal Court system showed up at
the Cipla factory with a court order to seize 15% of the sales' income
of the factory for the purpose of debt repayment. This would make it
impossible for Cipla to continue operating. If this payment is not made
to the government before the 5th of every month, Serge Goulart,
financial and administrative coordinator of the occupied
Cipla/Interfibra factories, could be thrown in jail.
On April 6, another judicial edict was issued to seize an additional 5%
of the gross sales' income to pay the former owners' back debt. Failure
to pay this sum also would result in the imprisonment of Serge Goulart.
The Factory Council has decided that it will not turn over to the
federal government the sums that are demanded, as this would mean not
being able to pay the wages of the factory workers.
The Factory Council also has decided that it will expand its campaign
and mobilizations demanding that the Lula government nationalize the
occupied plants.
On March 31, in downtown Joinville, at a rally called to organize the
"National March for Agrarian Reform and the Nationalization of the
Occupied Factories" – which will be held from April 18 to May 2 – the
workers called on the federal government to provide an immediate
solution to their demands, just as they denounced the threats of having
1000 jobs destroyed.
The workers are not responsible for these debts and for the non-payment
of back taxes by the former bosses. That is why they will not pay the
federal government the sums it is demanding.
Reiterating yet again their call for the nationalization of the
factories, they have called for a face-to-face meeting between the
workers' representatives and Mr. Luis Dulci, first secretary to the
President of the Republic. The purpose of this meeting is to insist
that President Lula and the Ministers of the Economy and of Social
Affairs follow through on their public pledge to meet with the
Cipla/Intefibra workers, at which time they will be asked to place of
stay of execution on the proposed measures by the federal courts.
The workers call on all supporters to redouble the pressure on the
administration through mass mobilizations, as well as resolutions and
letters addressed to the Lula government demanding the nationalization
of the occupied factories so that all jobs of the Cipla/Intefibra
workers can be saved.
The Cipla/Intefibra Factory Council also wishes to inform the general
public that "a commission of three state banks – BNDES, BESC and BRDE –
mandated by the Lula government to study the viability of the Cipla and
Interfibra plants, concluded its investigation with the following
statement, 'the largest financial burden on these enterprises stems
from the federal and state institutions (taxes, social charges, etc.)
Given the extent of the liabilities (more than 500 million reais, or
US$180 million) in relation to the productive capacities and sales
opportunities, only one solution is possible to save the enterprises
and their 1000 jobs: Our suggestion is that by decision of the federal
government, the BNDES, in partnership with the BRDE, take
responsibility for the entire amount of the companies' liabilities,
hence taking control of the enterprises and permitting them to return
to financial solvency'." (Letter from Superintendent of the BRDES to
the President of the Republic, February 10, 2005)
As far as the Factory Council and the workers at Cipla/Interfibra are
concerned, the only conclusion possible is, more than ever – that the
federal government, the boss of these state banks, issue the order to
nationalize both factories.
We call on all workers and labor rights activists to send union
and/or organizational resolutions, individual statements, and/or
telegrams to President Lula and to the General Secretariat of the
Presidency, Luis Dulci, to demand:
- Nationalize the occupied Cipla/Interfibra factories;
- Put a halt immediately to all the judiciary measures that threaten
with imprisonment Mr. Serge Goulart, coordinator of the Factory Council.
Please send your statements and resolutions by fax, regular mail or email to:
Presidency of the Republic
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - President of the Republic
Palácio do Planalto - Praça dos Três Poderes
Brasília/ DF- CEP 70250-900
Fax : 011- 55 61 411 1073
E-Mail : protocolo@planalto.gov.br
Also please send your statements to the following Federal Court Judges:
Juiz Federal Titular: Dr. LEONARDO CASTANHO MENDES
Juiz Federal Substituto: Dr. OZIEL FRANCISCO DE SOUSA
Diretor de Secretaria: Bel. ROSAN LUIS DA SILVEIRA PERES
Address: Rua do Príncipe, 123 - - Centro, Brasilia
CEP: 89201-001
FAX: 011- 55 47 433-9079
E-mail: SCJOIEF01@jfsc.gov.br
Please send a copy to imprensa@cipla.com.br