Brazil police fired tear gas at demonstrators on Friday after parts of Rio de Janeiro were paralysed when unions kicked off a 24-hour strike to protest against a government proposal to reform pensions and a freeze in education spending.
The pension reforms, aimed at restoring public finances and reviving a flagging economy, are fiercely opposed by some sectors of society for raising the minimum retirement age and workers’ contributions.
In Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, public transport was disrupted as subway workers adhered to the strike, affecting train schedules and closing some stations.
As well as seeking to block changes in public sector pensions, protesters gathered in cities across Brazil to rally against education spending freezes in demonstrations against Bolsonaro.
