Northern Life will be participating in a teleconference with a United Steelworkers delegation to Brazil Dec. 10.

The delegation has been invited to a hearing with the Brazilian Senate Dec. 10. Immediately following the hearing, a teleconference with the media is being held.

The hearing was organized “after senators publicly rebuked Brazil-based Vale for its treatment of Canadian workers and voiced support for the strikers (who have all been on strike in Sudbury and Port Colborne, Ont. and Voisey's Bay, Nfld. since this summer).

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas is also in Brazil, and hopes to meet with politicians in the country. Northern Life will also be speaking to her about her experiences Dec. 10.

“We are honoured to be invited by Brazil’s senators to discuss our struggle against Vale,” said Ken Neumann, USW Canadian national director, in a press release.

“The support of Brazilian politicians underscores the fact that our strike represents a battle for rights and living standards for working people in all countries where Vale operates.”