The internal war for power in the Union of All Education Specialists (STOP) may end in court. This Saturday, at an extraordinary general meeting called by 203 members, the dismissal of the divided management was approved. Andre Pestana was removed voluntarily – he belonged to the leadership – and was again elected president. Anti-Pestana protesters accuse the previous administration of “hindering the implementation of the democratic and militant trade union movement”; The victims say the meeting was illegal.
At the center of the dispute is Andre Pestana, the main figure of STOP, who embarked on a confrontational course with the leadership of the union of which he was part. “Andre Pestana should urgently fire the current management due to our request to audit the accounts,” says Carla Piedade, one of the nine members of the management Pestana opposes. Following Pestana’s departure from the Socialist Alternative Movement and the accusations brought against him, he also asks for political clarification. “There can be no confusion between STOP and political parties,” says Carla Piedade. Pestana refutes the suspicions, speaks of “cruel attacks and slander” and guarantees: “I have always separated my party version from my trade union version. I firmly defend independent trade unionism.”
“Unfortunately, there are colleagues who are more concerned about attacks on me than attacks on government policy. The union belongs to the members, not half a dozen directors,” he emphasizes. Regarding the checking of accounts, he guarantees that he never objected. As for this Saturday’s meeting, he says it “meets all legal and regulatory requirements.” But the president of the board, who has since been removed from office, has a different understanding: “Any discussion that arises as a result of this is riddled with illegality,” argues Teresa Cardoso.
