Opposition promises to block attempt to resume union tax

Opposition parliamentarians criticized the possible return of mandatory union tax assessed by the Lula government. The Minister of Labor and Employment, Luiz Marinho, said this Monday (21st) that the proposed new model is different from the previous union tax, extinguished in 2017. The leader of the opposition in the Senate, Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), said that the initiative is part of the “PT setbacks agenda”.

“We are going to be vigilant to avoid this appropriation of the Brazilian worker’s salary,” said Marinho in the social media. Senator Sergio Moro (União-PR) questioned the possible return of the contribution. “Big hand of the PT Government wanting to steal three days of income from the worker via reinstitution of union dues. What’s the problem with keeping her volunteer?”, stated the former Lava Jato judge.

The leader of the Novo party in the Chamber of Deputies, Adriana Ventura (SP), stated that the return of the mandatory discount is “height of absurdity”. Federal deputy Rosangela Moro (União-SP) pointed that the “government seems to forget that the labor reform was recently approved and that the National Congress extinguished the union contribution”.

Federal deputy Kim Kataguiri (União-SP) stated that he will do everything to “stop this absurdity”. “Remember when the PT forced you to work a day for free to play the part of a lazy unionist? Now PT wants you to work 3 days for free! I will do everything to stop this nonsense! Lula never defended the workers. It’s all for the comrade’s party!”, said Kataguiri.

The union contribution became optional after the labor reform in 2017. In April of this year, the government set up a working group to evaluate the resumption of the tax. On Monday, the newspaper The globe detailed a draft on the possible return of the contribution, which provides that two thirds of the amount raised would be allocated to unions, and the rest distributed among labor confederations. Marinho stated that workers who refuse to pay will need to go to the assemblies of their categories to vote against it.

“There is no mandatory union tax anymore. But a democracy needs to have a strong union. What is up for debate is creating a negotiable contribution. If the union is providing a service, enabling a wage increase, it is fair for the non-union worker to pay the contribution. If he does not agree to pay the fee, just go to the assembly and vote against it”, said the minister to the newspaper. The globe.