Authorities are deeply worried about the strike because the subway is the main means of transportation for World Cup fans scheduled to attend Thursday’s opening match when Brazil takes on Croatia. The stadium is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of central Sao Paulo, where most tourists stay.
Riot police firing tear gas pushed about 100 striking workers out of the station as the strike threw Sao Paulo’s normally congested traffic into chaos for a fifth day. About half of the city’s subway stations were operating, but with greatly diminished service.
“This is the way they negotiate, with tear gas and repression,” said Alexandre Roland, a union leader, as he and others regrouped outside the station after confronting riot police.
