As a union leader, he defended pension funds against the losses caused by the agreement with Daniel Dantas' Opportunity Asset Management ("Banco Opportunity"). Gushiken distinguished himself in his defense of PREVI ("Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil", the pension fund for workers of Banco do Brasil) during the privatizations promoted by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, when the fund was used to incorporate consortiums of foreign corporations in auctions of the iron and steel, electric and telephone service sectors.