The “manumission” of sugarcane cutters

a study on the Strike of 1984 in Campos dos Goytacazes

Abstract

The end of the 1970s was marked by the process of reorganization of rural and urban social movements in defense of political rights, redemocratization of the country, better living and working conditions. Several strikes, work stoppages and marches took place throughout the country, mobilizing multiple sectors, such as the strike of metalworkers in ABCD Paulista, sugarcane cutters in Pernambuco (1979), Guariba (1984) and Campos dos Goytacazes (1984), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This article, as far as it is concerned, aims to understand and analyze one of those moments of mobilization and questioning of living and working conditions: the strike of the "Campistas" sugarcane cutters, in July 1984. The objective is, therefore, to discuss the reasons that led to the strike, your organization and achievements. The strike was considered a moment of questioning the employers' authority, whose claims exceeded the needs for better economic conditions, becoming a moment of recovery of dignity. The collective confrontation with the bosses made it possible to expose the violent and arbitrary actions they suffered, as well as to mobilize the media in defense of compliance with the legislation and denunciation. The specialized bibliography and newspapers of the time are used as sources, concluding that the achievements, at least in the legal sphere, were significant for the sugarcane workers, mainly due to the organization carried out and the advances in collective bargaining.