Brazil power workers strike over Eletrobras privatization

Thousands of Brazilian power sector workers participated in a 24-hour strike on Monday to protest against the privatization of state-run group Eletrobras, union officials said.

The stoppage included 90% of Eletrobras' employees, according to the Federação Nacional dos Urbanitários and Coletivo Nacional dos Eletricitários unions.

Brazil's newly appointed energy minister, Wellington Moreira Franco, said last week that he expected an Eletrobras privatization bill to be approved this year, despite opposition from congress and uncertainty related to October's presidential election.

The government plans to raise 12.2bn reais (US$3.68bn) from the sale, which includes dozens of subsidiaries in power generation, transmission and distribution.

The proposed operation forms part of a sweeping privatization program comprising 57 state assets, including airports, highways and the national mint.