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September 25, 2020

Volkswagen to Pay $6.4 Millon to Brazilian Dictatorship Torture Survivors
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In Brazil, Volkswagen has agreed to pay $6.4 million to former employees
who were arrested and tortured after the car company reported them as
"subversives" during Brazil's military dictatorship of the 1960s, '70s
and '80s. In a settlement with Brazilian prosecutors, Volkswagen
admitted it targeted union activists at its massive auto plant near São
Paulo, where bosses spied on workers and reported outlawed newspapers
and flyers to police. This is former VW employee Expedito Batista.

Expedito Batista: "Volkswagen chased after the workers. They
incarcerated us inside the factory. Workers were handed over to the
Department of Political and Social Order, which was the political
authority at the time. Volkswagen's conduct at the time was willful.
This settlement does not completely satisfy us. We deserve more, given
our rights, but this is better than nothing."

The settlement will compensate victims who were arrested, beaten, fired
from their jobs, blacklisted and left unable to find employment for
years. Brazil's far-right president, former Army captain Jair Bolsonaro,
has praised Brazil's military dictatorship and has called for the
restoration of many of its policies.


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