O labor movement in Brazil was born during the process of industrialization of the country, stimulated by the capital accumulated with coffee production and by the available labor, mainly European immigrants.
It developed during Old Republic, also known as the First Republic.
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Between 1887 and 1930, Brazil received almost 4 million foreigners. Initially, they were directed to work in the coffee plantations.
However, many felt attracted by the cities, moving from the countryside to urban centers with the expectation of finding jobs in industries.
As social interaction was closer in the cities, factory workers began to organize their class organizations, directed towards the conquest of rights and better wages.
Thus, with the factories, the labor movement in Brazil.
At the beginning of the 20th century, each factory had its own specific standards. Workers did not have any legislation in their favor guaranteeing weekly rest, sick leave or maternity leave.
The workers worked up to 16 hours a day, in terrible conditions and under surveillance at all times.
The difficult situation prompted them to create unions, parties and associations. In general, they claimed better living conditions, wages, work, health, etc.
In 1906, workers from the Southeast organized the 1st Brazilian Workers Congress, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
In it, workers fought for the reduction of working hours, the abolition of fines for employees and the legalization of female work.
Workers organized strikes to reduce working hours, however, they were harshly repressed.
At the time, conflicts between employers and employees were considered police matters.
As a result, the arrest of workers and the deportation of foreigners, considered “disturbing public order”, was quite common.
The Adolfo Gordo Law legalized this practice, regulating the expulsion of 132 foreigners in 1907 alone.
The workers' leaders were, for the most part, Italians and Spaniards who brought Europe union influences seen as threats by the Brazilian business community.
The strike was the main weapon used by the workers to conquer their rights. There were cases in which they had an effect, causing them to get some of their demands met.
However, as there was no support from the law, they quickly returned to their previous condition.
The most significant strike movements were those that shook strategic sectors of the economy, or those that mobilized thousands of workers from the most varied categories.
Examples of these movements were the stoppages of stevedores and railway workers, as well as the General Strike of 1917 that took place in São Paulo.
The two doctrines that most influenced the strike movements were the socialism and anarchism.
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