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Since the firing of Icaro in March, the struggle has been continuing in the factory. A group of six workers went on strike but were fired. Other dismissals are being carried on as well; in November, the factory fired 40 people and threatened to close its doors. Now Icaro is being charged with defamation against the company, which is a criminal charge in Brazil. His trial will be on Wednesday, December 14 in Minas Gerais, Araxá.

The IWA received this information from the COB-AIT in May 2011:

“FF Mercantil, a company from Araxá-Minas Gerais, responsible for products of the Brazilian brand Finta and the Italian brand Lotto, keep their employees in a regime of extremely precarious work conditions and use different means to prevent them from organizing to resist their exploitation: the workers don't receive extra money for working in unhealthy conditions, they are exposed to excessive heat, they receive less than the minimum wage and many are the victims of humiliation, persecution and blackmail.

The latest manoeuvre to persecute by the bosses occured on March 22, with the dismissal of Ícaro, member of Sindivários Araxá, belonging to the Workers Federation of Minas Gerais, who was struggling together with his comrades to fight for their rights. The workers who did not surrender to the bosses are still being repressed. ”

The workers of FF Mercantil are demanding an 8 hour working day and a 5-day work week, better health and safety measures in the factory, extra payment for work in dangerous conditions and the right to organize . They need all the solidarity they can get in their fight for better work conditions- and against repression!!

SOLIDARITY WITH THE FF MERCANTIL WORKERS
BOYCOTT FINTA AND LOTTO. NO TO EMPLOYERS EXPLOITATION .
DON'T BUY PRODUCTS MADE WITH SEMI-SLAVE LABOUR!
FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF ÍCARO POLETTO!
FOR UNION FREEDOM!