Commuters in Sao Paulo faced huge traffic jams and lingering uncertainty Thursday, but the Brazilian metropolis was slowly returning to normal after a paralyzing bus drivers' strike.
The two-day protest stranded more than a million passengers and unleashed transit chaos on the economic hub of Brazil, which hosts the opening match of the World Cup in just three weeks.
Most buses were running again after city officials and the transport union reached a deal with drivers to end the strike at midnight.
Commuters, however, still faced stalled traffic stretching 170 kilometers (more than 100 miles) -- a morning rush hour record in this sprawling city of 20 million people.
"The bus terminals aren't closed anymore, but it's been slow going to reestablish service," a city transit spokesman said.
Media reports said some holdout drivers threw stones at buses, while others continued to strike in four suburbs in the greater metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, some buses abandoned by their drivers during the strike were still stranded in the middle of the street on Thursday, snarling traffic.
The drivers were rebelling against their own union, which had agreed to a 10-percent pay increase in negotiations with management.
They were still demanding to meet Mayor Fernando Haddad later Thursday, and a group of drivers remained camped outside his offices.
But Haddad told journalists he was waiting for a labor court ruling on whether the strike was legal before meeting with drivers.
Employees of the city's subway system are meanwhile due to hold a meeting next week on whether to strike.
The underground rail system had acted as a crucial pressure valve as desperate commuters struggled to find their way home with no buses.
The metro overflowed with passengers who fought amongst themselves for spots on trains that were packed to the limit.
Meanwhile, police detectives staged a 24-hour strike in several Brazilian states Wednesday, reigniting concerns over security at World Cup, to be hosted by a country with one of the world's worst crime rates.
Brazil has faced a wave of strikes and protests in the run-up to the games and elections in October. Police, teachers and bank security guards have all gone on strike in recent weeks.
The Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST) was due to hold another protest in Sao Paulo late Thursday.
Last week, about 5,000 members of the movement set fire to car tires and marched to Corinthians Arena, the city's World Cup stadium, to protest the more than $11 billion being spent on the tournament.
Similar protests last year during the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal, drew one million people to the streets and at times turned violent, to the embarrassment of tournament organizers.
Two-thirds of Sao Paulo's residents believe hosting the World Cup is bringing Brazilians more harm than good, according to a survey published Thursday by polling firm Datafolha. Ninety percent said hosting the games has fueled corruption.
Commuters in Sao Paulo faced huge traffic jams and lingering uncertainty Thursday, but the Brazilian metropolis was slowly returning to normal after a paralyzing bus drivers’ strike.
The two-day protest stranded more than a million passengers and unleashed transit chaos on the economic hub of Brazil, which hosts the opening match of the World Cup in just three weeks.
Most buses were running again after city officials and the transport union reached a deal with drivers to end the strike at midnight.
Commuters, however, still faced stalled traffic stretching 170 kilometers (more than 100 miles) — a morning rush hour record in this sprawling city of 20 million people.
“The bus terminals aren’t closed anymore, but it’s been slow going to reestablish service,” a city transit spokesman said.
Media reports said some holdout drivers threw stones at buses, while others continued to strike in four suburbs in the greater metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, some buses abandoned by their drivers during the strike were still stranded in the middle of the street on Thursday, snarling traffic.
The drivers were rebelling against their own union, which had agreed to a 10-percent pay increase in negotiations with management.
They were still demanding to meet Mayor Fernando Haddad later Thursday, and a group of drivers remained camped outside his offices.
But Haddad told journalists he was waiting for a labor court ruling on whether the strike was legal before meeting with drivers.
Employees of the city’s subway system are meanwhile due to hold a meeting next week on whether to strike.
The underground rail system had acted as a crucial pressure valve as desperate commuters struggled to find their way home with no buses.
The metro overflowed with passengers who fought amongst themselves for spots on trains that were packed to the limit.
Meanwhile, police detectives staged a 24-hour strike in several Brazilian states Wednesday, reigniting concerns over security at World Cup, to be hosted by a country with one of the world’s worst crime rates.
Brazil has faced a wave of strikes and protests in the run-up to the games and elections in October. Police, teachers and bank security guards have all gone on strike in recent weeks.
The Homeless Workers’ Movement (MTST) was due to hold another protest in Sao Paulo late Thursday.
Last week, about 5,000 members of the movement set fire to car tires and marched to Corinthians Arena, the city’s World Cup stadium, to protest the more than $11 billion being spent on the tournament.
Similar protests last year during the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal, drew one million people to the streets and at times turned violent, to the embarrassment of tournament organizers.
Two-thirds of Sao Paulo’s residents believe hosting the World Cup is bringing Brazilians more harm than good, according to a survey published Thursday by polling firm Datafolha. Ninety percent said hosting the games has fueled corruption.
