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Brazil environmental employees propose offer to end strike holding up oil authorizations

Brazil's federal environment workers on Tuesday presented the government with a. deal to end their strike that has actually cut efforts to protect. the Amazon rain forest and slowed allowing for oil and gas. projects.

The union Ascema and its affiliates voted to strike last. month, requiring better wages and working conditions.

The proposed deal quits on many needs beyond a wage. hike, with Ascema in a letter blasting the government of Luiz. Inacio Lula da Silva for negotiating with overlook, disrespect,. ridicule and contempt for those who deal with an agenda fundamental. to the federal government's goals.

The government has actually gotten and will examine the deal, it. stated in a statement to . Lula's workplace and federal. environmental firm Ibama did not instantly respond to. request for remark.

Lula has staked his global reputation on safeguarding. the Amazon and bring back Brazil's environment management, following. environmental rollbacks and rising logging under his. predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.

This federal government has actually not kept its guarantee, said Wallace. Lopes, a union leader with Ascema.

Lopes pledged that even if the strike ended, a wider work. slowdown that began in January at Ibama would continue and hold. up ecological licensing for oil production and other. commercial projects.

He said Ibama staff members were prepared to keep the. downturn until the United Nations environment top COP30, set to. happen in the Amazonian town of Belem, in 2025.

Lopes expects the ongoing dispute to directly affect. logging numbers, making them even worse in 2024 than in 2023,. he informed .

According to oil lobby group IBP, the absence of licences is. having a 200,000 barrels daily influence on production, while. Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras stated absence of. licences has impacted their operations in three oil fields.

The proposed deal follows a judge from Brazil's Superior. Court of Justice ordered - at the federal government's request - that. Ibama's employees resume certifying and forest fire prevention. activities despite being on strike.

(source: Reuters)