Mr Artur Henrique da Silva Santos president of the CUT Brazil and Mr Leo W Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers formed a strategic partnership to support workers in their negotiations with the Brazilian multinational Vale.

The main objective is the renewal of collective agreements in Canada and Brazil.

After months of negotiation, Vale refuses to renew contract provisions covering retirement and other benefits that were part of the agreements for more than 20 years. The workers in Canada rejected the company's demands and went on strike on July 13. The two idled Canadian sites are Sudbury and Port Colborne, and employ some 4,600 workers.

The Brazilian workers organized in the Vale Union Network, part of nearly 150,000 Vale employees in 35 countries in five continents, are extremely concerned about the fate of the negotiations in Canada, since the outcome could have an immediate impact in the renewal of the collective agreement in Brazil.

The unions of Vale Network related to the CUT Brazil and other unions demand that the company immediately returns to negotiations in Canada, and submits an acceptable proposal to the workers.

Mr Ken Neumann United Steelworkers National Director of Canada said "The growing international support for the Canadian Vale Inco workers sends a strong message regarding the importance of this fight.”