国际英语新闻:Strikes close highways, ports in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- A series of strikes organized by trade unions on Thursday resulted in the blockage of important highways and three of Brazil's largest ports.

Brazil's most important port of Santos, and other two large ports of Itaguai and of Suape were blocked for several hours with trucks with cargo unable to reach the port area, according to reports collected here.

The Dutra highway linking Brazil's largest cities -- Rio and Sao Paulo -- was blocked, as were over 20 other highways all over the country, the reports said.

Bus and subway workers' unions in some state capitals such as Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre joined the strikes, leaving people in these cities without public transportation to go to work.

Teachers' associations also joined the strikes, so some schools and universities had their classes suspended.

Marches are scheduled to take place in late afternoon and evening in several cities.

The unions' demands include changes in the social security regulations, reduction in work hours, and better salaries for retired workers and pension beneficiaries.

In June, Brazil was swept by hundreds of protests.