Organização de classe e prestação de serviços do Sindicato dos Trabalhadores Rurais de Francisco Beltrão-PR

Abstract

This research makes a historical review through specific theoretical framework of the Brazilian rural syndicalism, taking into account the conflicts that occurred and occur in the field. It analyzes the Rural Workers Union (RWU) of Francisco Beltrão-PR, through qualitative and quantitative methodological tools, especially the semi-structured interviews with former directors, current directors and farmers who are union members. It identifies the changes that have occurred since its foundation (1963) to the present. In the first moment, the RWU fulfilled the legalism imposed by the Brazilian government; in the second moment, after the opposition s victory (1978), it gave priority to the organization and fight for farmers' rights; in the third moment, it joined a national strategy, inside the bodies of Central Única dos Trabalhadores - CUT. This strategy gave priority to the public of family farmers from the 1990s, opposing the representation of rural workers, this was one of the reasons that caused the break with CONTAG system and the rural unions of CUT which created a new union structure of the field, FETRAF system. Currently the RWU of Francisco Beltrão is still affiliated to FETRAF and works in the organization of family farming, competing public policies with the Brazilian agribusiness sector