By the law and against the law – struggles and organization of construction workers in Salvador (1919-1922)

Abstract

In June 1919, the construction workers of Salvador, members of the Union of
Bricklayers, Carpenters and Other Classes (SPCDC), were fundamentally responsible for the early engage, accomplishment and success of the general strike that nearly paralyzed the productive activities of the entire city. Since then, this labor union encouraged the founding of several others organizations of unionized workers resistence, which originated widespread strikes. Those unionized workers also promoted the First Congress of Workers of Bahia (July 1919) and collaborated decisively in the creation of the Federation of Bahia’s Workers, in February 1920. In addition, important figures emerged from its core who acted in the organization of the Socialist Party of Bahia (August 1920). Among the activities the bricklayers’s union used to promoted, were also included publishing two labor newspapers and founding a proletarian school. Considering the diversity of Brazil’s worlds of labour historical experiences and focusing on the multiple practices and initiatives held by SPCDC’s militants, we sought to identify the specific features and regularities present in the case of Bahia in relation to other experiences. The circulation of ideas and activists - socialists and anarchists - constitutes, therefore, an important factor to clarify the understanding of the proletarian manifestations of the period in Salvador. Thus, incited by encouragement from other parts of the country and the world, such as campaigns, strikes and demands, but also based on their own experiences of exploration and survival, Bahia’s workers were able to earn material, organizational and political advantages. For that, they formed alliances of solidarity and class identity that enabled them to establish themselves as social and political agents in Salvador’s society.