Speech by the Central dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras do Brasil, by Carlos Muller -Deputy Secretary of International Relations of the CTB. September 7, 2024.
Dear comrades of the BRICS Trade Union Forum On behalf of the National President of the CTB, Adilson Araújo, we congratulate the unity achieved by the BRICS Trade Unions in the defense of labor, the recovery of wages and rights, and in the promotion of the unity of the people in the fight against inequalities, blockades and economic sanctions.
The Brazilian trade unions CTB, CUT, Força Sindical, UGT, CSB and NCST congratulate the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) and the Confederation of Workers of Russia (KTR) for holding this 13th BRICS Trade Union Forum in Sochi, as we congratulate all the other delegations present.
It is with great pleasure that we participate in the opening of this forum on the same day that we celebrate Brazil's national Independence Day, today, September 7th. In 1822, Brazil overcame more than 300 years as a European colony and became an independent nation, facing enormous challenges to achieve its full sovereignty. We are, therefore, a young nation, with 202 years of independence and 35 years of democratic rule.
The international scenario today points to a growing multipolarity that opposes hegemony and the growth of the bloc of nations that seek the protection of their sovereignty, shared economic growth and social progress, security and peace among nations, which has been built with great contribution from the BRICS countries.
The aggressiveness of the hegemonic control of the economy, which since the end of the Cold War has attempted to block the emergence of any force capable of competing with it or reducing its dominance anywhere in the world, is the greatest demonstration of the deep crisis and decadence of this current model based on the dollar as an international currency, on financialization, on military power and on trade and economic blockades.
Dear comrades, fortunately Brazil managed to take an important step towards maintaining democracy with the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaving behind a dark period in which we lived with a denialist government that weakened democracy, tried to eliminate unions, and increased poverty and social inequalities in our country.
In this sense, our trade unions have sought to act in unity, defending a national project for sustainable development, anchored in the resumption of industrialization, in the advancement of science, technology and innovation to generate quality jobs that enable the growth of workers' income, the reduction of inequalities and the promotion of social justice, with the effective participation of a strong and representative trade union movement.We are pleased to see that the BRICS bloc is strengthening and can play a central role in this new world order. We consider it important that our countries support the Global Coalition for Social Justice, established by the ILO with the support of President Lula's government. This is an initiative that, among other actions, seeks to combat hunger in the world. We have no doubt that ensuring food security is an essential condition for our countries to be able to achieve more significant steps.
In the continuation of our work and joint efforts, we would like to remind you that Brazil will hold the presidency of BRICS in the coming period. We extend a fraternal invitation to our sister organizations to be present at the 14th BTUF in Brazil, at a location yet to be defined by our government, and at COP-30, which will take place in November in the city of Belém, in the Amazon region.
Finally, we welcome and support the proposal of the Russian presidency to establish a statute for the admission of new organizations to the BRICS Trade Union Forum 2024.
Long live the BRICS Trade Union Forum!
Long life to the BTUF!
Thank you very much!