SÃO PAULO— Days before the World Cup begins in Brazil, São Paulo police say a construction accident on the monorail, meant to expand the city's metro network, has killed a worker
Union leaders suspended a five-day strike that has paralyzed this city, but said workers would vote Wednesday on whether to resume the walkout, which threatens to bring chaos to the first day of the World Cup soccer tournament.
The development came late on Monday after negotiations between the state government and union leaders broke down and São Paulo State Transportation Secretary Jurandir Fernandes said it was now up to the union to decide its next move.
What began as a dispute over pay is now centered on the state's sacking of 42 subway workers Monday for alleged vandalism and misconduct. Mr. Fernandes said the government would stand firm on its decision not to reinstate the workers.
"The other demands aren't a priority anymore," he said. "The priority is the reinstatement of the 42 comrades," he said.São Paulo Metro workers' union President Altino de Melo Prazeres Júnior said his members would return to work immediately as a show of "good faith in wanting to negotiate." But he said the union would walk off the job again on Thursday—the day of the opening soccer match between Brazil and Croatia—if the workers aren't rehired.
The standoff comes as thousands of fans are streaming into Brazil's largest city for soccer's biggest event.
Days before the World Cup begins in Brazil, São Paulo police say a construction accident on the monorail, meant to expand the city's metro network, has killed a worke
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