In 1953, the city of São Paulo experienced one of the main moments of struggle of industrial workers when the 300 thousand strike. Started in the textile industry, it quickly spread to other industrial sectors, mobilizing a huge contingent of workers. It was also one of the main manifestations of workers during the democratic government of Getulio Vargas.
Since the period of General Dutra's government, strikes and union organization outside state structures were prohibited. The arrival of Vargas again to power created in the workers the expectation of greater freedom of union organization, as a result of the former dictator's campaign speech aimed more at workers.
Another reason that led workers to speak out was the high inflation of previous years that was eroding the purchasing power of workers' wages. The minimum wage created in 1943 had been raised only once and insufficiently. In this sense, the struggle of the workers was directed both towards an economic aspect, of salary increase, as well as an aspect of union organization.
The demonstrations began on March 18, 1953, when a march called “empty pan” gathered 60,000 people, who walked from Praça da Sé to the Campos Elísios palace, the seat of the state government, demanding a salary readjustment. A week later, around 300,000 people stopped working. Started in the textile sector, the strike soon spread to sectors such as metallurgy, graphics, cabinetmakers and glaziers.
With a union situation in which unions were tied to the corporatist structure of the State, workers began to organize themselves from company committees, which united workers from their workplaces. From the link between these committees, a Interunion Commission, which operated outside the corporate union structure. The result of such action in the union sphere was the emergence of a new generation of union activists, far from the state apparatus, which created the Inter-union Unit Pact (PUI).
The strike was successful for having achieved its economic objective, with a salary increase of 32%. But it was also successful for creating bonds of solidarity between different professional categories and also with part of the population. The doctors' union provided free medical assistance to the strikers, mainly after the almost daily clashes with the police. In the working-class neighborhood of Mooca, a communal kitchen was set up where meals were prepared to be distributed to paralyzed workers.
O Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), which at the time was still working underground, played an important role in helping to organize the movement. One of the prominent names was Carlos Marighela, who worked in the articulation of the various points where the fight was taking place. However, there were oppositions to the PCB line within the movement, especially with regard to marches, as union sectors saw the need to avoid them to reduce confrontations with the police.
After almost a month of strike, the Regional Labor Court (TRT) reached an agreement with the bosses to grant a 32% increase. However, around 400 strikers lost their jobs when they returned to their jobs. As the majority were union members, the presence of these strikers in the factories was not accepted by the bosses, in because of the danger they could represent to the power of businessmen, since they could influence other workers.
By Tales Pinto
Graduated in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiab/greve-dos-300-mil-sao-paulo-1953.htm
