September 12, 1979: alongside the headlines echoing the return of political leaders exiled by the Military Dictatorship, Rio newspapers reported that more than 250,000 metalworkers, almost all from Rio de Janeiro, had crossed their arms in protest. They demanded an 83% raise, a minimum wage of six thousand cruzeiros, job security for pregnant workers, and daycare spots for workers' children. It was the category's first strike in 15 years, since the military had settled into power and begun banning strikes and public demonstrations.
The coordination was done under the radar: to dodge the bosses' watch, small groups plotted at the cafeteria tables, in whispers by the machines, or even in the restrooms. What seemed like casual moments of work were, in fact, furtive meetings to debate the agenda of the stoppage. On September 11th, when the workers gathered in a packed assembly at the Metalworkers' Union – located on Rua Ana Neri, São Cristóvão –, the strike was already a fixed idea.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of an animated crowd, with people raising flags and lifting their arms. The spatial arrangement is head-on, with the crowd filling the entire extent of the image. In the upper part, there are flags with inscriptions in Portuguese, while in the lower part, the crowd is closer to the camera.Metalúrgicos em assembleia na sede do sindicato decidem pela greve. Foto de A. Philot – 11/09/1979 – Fundação Perseu Abramo.
However, the more than 90% adherence rate among workers surprised even the union leadership. Throughout the week, there were daily pickets at the factory gates, such as in the neighborhoods of Caju and Jacaré, and at the city's shipyards, as well as daily police repression, with arrests and reports of intimidation against the strikers.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of a protest. At the bottom, there is a banner with text in Portuguese. On the left, we see the silhouette of a person holding an object. In the center, groups of people are gathered, some holding the banner. In the background, there are buildings and more people watching.Sindicalistas promovem piquete durante a greve dos metalúrgicos – 12 de setembro de 1979. Jornal da República, São Paulo, Ano 1979/edição 00016. Fundação Biblioteca Nacional.
After a series of negotiations, the workers accepted the employers' proposal. They received a 75% raise and a base pay of three thousand nine hundred cruzeiros, along with the guarantee that there would be no layoffs until November 1st. Beyond these gains, the strike represented a renewing experience for the city's labor movement, with the emergence of new leaders and a bond of fraternity within the profession.
