Trade union, dictatorship and democratic transition: continuitys and discontinuities on Brazilian corporatism (1974-1984)

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the importance of the Brazilian corporate union model that was inaugurated during the Getúlio Vargas’ fist government (1930-1945), carried on by the civil-military regime, and continued until the end of Brazilian democratic transition. The article focus on the of Metalworkers Union of Rio de Janeiro to examine the role played by the New Unionism in the Brazilian corporate model. It argues that, despite criticising the corporative model, in fact, the New Unionism made use of its schemes and reinforced it structure.