New leadership elected in Brazil's major metalworkers unions in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

Wellington Damasceno was installed as president of the Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos do ABC on Sunday, following his election in April with 97.47% of the vote. He will lead the union for the 2026‑2029 term, succeeding the previous administration. Damasceno has a background as a Volkswagen production assembler and holds a law degree and a postgraduate qualification in labor relations.

In the Sul Fluminense region, the electoral process for the Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos do Sul Fluminense began on Tuesday and will run through Thursday. Incumbent president Odair Mariano is seeking re‑election, and voting is taking place at the union headquarters in Volta Redonda as well as at sites in Barra Mansa, Resende and major local factories such as CSN, Volkswagen, Nissan, ArcelorMittal and Saint‑Gobain.