The Observatory of Health and Work in Agribusiness (ObAgro), in partnership with the Latin American regional office of the IUF, has been carrying out a movement to bring university researchers closer to the needs of the trade union movement, based on studies and research that directly interest workers, in particular, issues that may affect their health and quality of life.
There were two meetings. The first was on September 18, with Vicente López, director of the May Day Foundation, responsible for organizing research and providing technical support for the actions of the largest Spanish trade union federation, the Commissiones Obreras (CCOO). The second was held on September 19, at the headquarters of the CCOO Trade Union Federations, and was attended by the service sector leader, Fenando Medina (Secretary of International Trade Union Action of the Services Federation), Juan Blanco (International Secretary of Industry) and Marco A. Pérez (General Secretary of the Trade Union Section of CCOO Campofrio).
Fernando Medina, Marco Pérez, Juan Blanco e Roberto Ruiz, at the meeting at the headquarters of the CCOO Federations, Madrid, 2024.
The organization of a first Brazil-Spain seminar was discussed, to debate advanced topics of interest to workers and the general population, such as climate change, the indiscriminate use of pesticides and antibiotics in the agribusiness production process, as well as accidents and occupational diseases such as RSI/WMSDs, moral harassment and infectious diseases at work. The following agenda is being developed: in November 2024, a virtual meeting (videoconference) Brazil-Spain. In May 2025, a delegation of Brazilian leaders will be organized to come to Spain, and in November 2025 a delegation of Spanish and European union leaders will go to Brazil, participating in a coordinated manner in the global climate change summit, COP 30.
As described by Roberto Ruiz, occupational physician and director of health and safety at work for the Latin American regional office of the IUF, “these actions in Madrid aim to discuss advanced issues of interest to workers and humanity, providing adequate technical support to union members for debates at the climate summit in November 2025, which will take place in the city of Belém (Brazil). We are thinking of organized and qualified interventions by the union movement, at a time that should be crucial for the planet, which may possibly be the last chance for us to maintain the possibility of a healthy life on earth for the vast majority of the world’s population.” Ruiz participated in the meetings, as he is currently in a PhD program at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) in conjunction with the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), researching the area of workers' health.
In Brazil, CONTAC/CUT and CNTA are involved in this initiative, as well as several unions and federations. Any entity, institution or even company that aims to build a better future is welcome to join this project, and can contact ObAgro through this link.
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