1978–1980 ABC Paulista strikes and Brazil's Military Rule

In 1978, ABC Paulista, a major textile company in Brazil, was in crisis. The company's financial woes had led to massive layoffs, leaving thousands of workers without jobs.

The workers, who were mostly women, were determined to fight for their rights. They organized a strike, which would go on to become a pivotal moment in Brazilian history.

The strike was sparked by the company's decision to cut wages and benefits, which would have left many workers in poverty. The workers, however, were not willing to back down.

Led by the Union of Workers of the Textile Industry (SINTIC), the workers demanded better working conditions, fair wages, and job security. Their determination and solidarity would eventually lead to significant changes in the company's policies.

Here's an interesting read: National Textile Corporation

Brazil's Dictatorship was a period of great turmoil and resistance. The country was ruled by a military regime from 1964 to 1985.

In 1979, hundreds of thousands of workers in the ABC Paulista region went on strike, demanding better working conditions and wage hikes. The strike was led by Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva, a charismatic 33-year-old metal worker.

The government declared the strike illegal, but the workers pushed on, with Lula leading huge rallies in the Vila Euclides Stadium. On May 1, 1979, 150,000 people attended a rally, marking International Workers Day.

The government responded with repression, jailing Lula and a dozen other labor leaders for over a month. But the workers continued to protest, with rallies and pickets taking place across the country.

In 1980, the strike continued, with workers demanding a 40-hour work week, scheduled salary adjustments for inflation, and direct elections. The government cracked down, raiding unions and tracking down leaders, but the workers refused to back down.

Here are some key dates in the ABC Paulista strikes:

The ABC Paulista strikes were a pivotal moment in Brazilian history. In 1978, hundreds of thousands of metalworkers in the region of ABC Paulista, including those from Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz, went on strike demanding better working conditions and substantial wage hikes.

Consider reading: Instituto Moreira Salles Ims Paulista

These strikes were a massive show of force, with 200,000 metalworkers walking off the job. The government declared the strike illegal, but the workers continued to protest, leading to huge rallies in the Vila Euclides Stadium, including one on May 1, International Workers Day, with 150,000 people in attendance.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a charismatic 33-year-old metalworker, led the way, speaking the language of the working class and rallying the workers. The strikes continued in 1980, with Lula demanding a 40-hour work week, scheduled salary adjustments for inflation, and direct elections.

The government responded with repression, jailing Lula and a dozen other labor leaders for over a month. Despite this, the workers continued to protest, with rallies and pickets taking place. The strike eventually came to an end, but it marked the beginning of a general strike that would ripple across Brazil, with 3 million workers walking off the job just two months later.

Here are some key dates and events from the ABC Paulista strikes: