Tens of thousands of workers go on strike in Brazil

Brazilians walked out on their jobs by the tens of thousands in a nationwide strike on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. 

Strikers are demanding better public service and employment conditions in this latest demonstration of anger towards the ruling government, which comes a month after mass protests shook the nation. 

BBC News said strikers also started marching, blocking main ports and roadways and bringing big cities like Sao Paolo to a "near standstill."

Brazil's largest unions came together to organize Thursday's "Day of Struggle" event, in which at least 10 Brazilian states participated, said the BBC. 

"We want things to improve in the country," Sao Paulo city worker Rosely Paschetti told Agence France-Presse. "We are marching because health and education are in crisis in Brazil. There must be a change." Many Brazilians are also angered by government spending on big sport events like the upcoming soccer World Cup. 

As many as 5,000 people took to the streets in Sao Paolo, according to Al Jazeera. 

Thursday's strike increases pressure on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who last week proposed billions in spending on public transportation and other services in response to the unrest, Al Jazeera said.