Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Brazilian unions aren't lying down under attacks from Michel Temer's regime
Brazil's Labour Minister Caio Luiz de Almeida Vieira de Mello, behind, stands with President Michel Temer

In Brazil, the far-right government of President Michel Temer had a victory over the country’s workers and unions last week, but the fighting spirit of the Brazilian working class seems to be undaunted.

Brazil has national elections on October 7 of this year, with a runoff on October 28 if necessary to decide the presidency. The current government is extremely unpopular and there are a huge number of parties contending the presidential elections. The degree to which worker and popular discontent can be translated into electoral victories for the left is now the big question.

Last year, Temer’s allies in Congress passed a series of devastating measures aimed at completely trashing workers’ rights on the job.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Lula speaks at election rally
Latin America / 25 August 2026
25 August 2026

Sovereignty and the rule of law are under threat from Trump’s attacks on Lula’s administration just as they have been across Latin America, argue CARLOS MARTINEZ and SARA VIVACQUA

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro (right) accompanied by Argentina's President Javier Milei during the Liberal Party convention where Mr Bolsonaro was confirmed as the party's presidential candidate, in Sao Paulo, July 25, 2026
Latin America / 27 July 2026
27 July 2026
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva talks to journalists during a joint press conference with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, October 23, 2025
Tariff row / 17 July 2026
17 July 2026
Journalists work at the entrance of the federal police headquarters, where former President Jair Bolsonaro is being held, in Brasilia, Brazil, November 23, 2025
Brazil / 26 November 2025
26 November 2025