After sending a letter to President Lula urging a veto on a bill prohibiting automatic discounts on INSS benefits, labor unions are preparing a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality at the Supreme Federal Court against the law he sanctioned. The effort will involve CUT, Força Sindical, and other groups, with filing planned for February. They claim the measure is unconstitutional for separating retirees from other workers.
The labor unions, including CUT (Central Única dos Trabalhadores), Força Sindical, UGT (União Geral dos Trabalhadores), CTB (Central das Trabalhadoras e Trabalhadores do Brasil), NCST (Nova Central Sindical de Trabalhadores), and CSB (Central dos Sindicatos Brasileiros), along with workers' confederations, plan to file the ADI after the judiciary's recess ends in February.
Valeir Ertle, CUT's national secretary of Legal Affairs, stated that the law separates retirees from other workers, deeming it unconstitutional. "Não tem cabimento. Isso aí é totalmente inconstitucional. Não pode separar aposentado dos demais trabalhadores. Essa lei também pode acabar se voltando contra as entidades sindicais," he said.
Ertle noted that the unions already face financing issues, and the law will worsen the weakening of entities representing retirees. The groups plan to meet to discuss and draft a robust legal piece, coordinating with their legal departments.
The law emerged as a response to frauds in associative discounts from INSS retirees and pensioners. Ertle dismissed fears of backlash, arguing that serious entities operated despite scams by fraudulent groups. "Havia entidades sérias atuando. Alguns erros podiam estar acontecendo, mas algumas das entidades eram sérias. Mas você teve entidades que foram criadas para fraudar, que não tinham nem sequer autorização para funcionar," he explained.
He cited examples like Contag, with 50 years of history, and Contraf Brasil, linked to CUT. "Tem que colocar na cadeia essas pessoas que fraudaram os trabalhadores e a Previdência. É uma coisa horrorosa," he concluded.
