Jair Antonio Meneguelli (born 16 July 1947) is a Brazilian politician and former trade union leader. Born in

São Caetano do Sul São Caetano do Sul (or São Caetano) ('' Saint Cajetan of the South''. ) is a city in São Paulo state in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. The population is 161,957 (2020 est.) in an area of 15.33 km2. It is the ci ...

, Meneguelli studied at the Colégio Barão do Rio Branco before becoming a toolmaker. He found work with

Willys Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...

, which soon became part of

Ford of Brazil Ford Brasil is the Brazilian subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the United States for assembly ...

. In 1977, he joined the Metalworkers' Union of São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema, and the following year he took part in a major campaign for wage increases. Through this, he came to know Lula, and Meneguelli was a founder member of the Workers' Party (PT) in 1980. In 1981, Meneguelli became president of the Metalworkers' Union, after Lula had been removed from office by the government. Two years later, he took it into the new

Central Única dos Trabalhadores Central Única dos Trabalhadores ( en, Unified Workers' Central), commonly known by the acronym CUT, is the main national trade union center in Brazil. History CUT was formed on 28 August 1983 in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, during the Fi ...

(CUT), and at the first CUT congress, in 1984, he was elected as its president. The CUT played a leading role in increasing industrial action, culminating in the 1986 general strike. In 1987, he stood down from the Metalworkers' Union, to focus on the CUT and the PT. Meneguelli stood down as leader of the CUT in 1994, and was elected as a deputy in the

1994 Brazilian general election General elections were held in Brazil on October 3, 1994, the second to take place under the provisions of the 1988 constitution and the second direct presidential election since 1960. Elected in 1989, President Fernando Collor of the centre-rig ...

. In 1995/96, he also served as deputy leader of PT. In 2000, he unsuccessfully ran to become mayor of São Caetano do Sul. He lost his parliamentary seat in 2002, being appointed as president of the

Industrial Social Services The Brazilian Industrial Social Services (, ''SESI'' in Portuguese) is a private Brazilian not-for-profit institution that operates throughout the country. It was set up on July 1, 1946 stating its aim to be "promoting social welfare, cultural d ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meneguelli, Jair 1947 births Living people People from São Caetano do Sul Brazilian trade unionists Workers' Party (Brazil) politicians Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Brazil) from São Paulo