Between August 28 and November 16, 1906, a shoemakers' strike took on large proportions in Rio de Janeiro. At the time, a process of concentrating production in the hands of a few entrepreneurs was underway, who were investing in the mechanization of the footwear industry. The bosses increased the pressure on their employees, imposing the payment of wages below the standards established in the market.
Most of the 127 establishments dedicated to the trade in the city were workshops that employed, on average, 20 people. On the other hand, there were much larger factories, with about 100 workers. The workers demanded that employers, in both large and small factories, respect the wage table set by the União Auxiliadora dos Artistas Sapateiros. The strikers also created an “official passbook,” a set of rules to be signed as a guarantee that the agreement would be honored.
As they received no response, the shoemakers decided, in a general assembly, to halt their activities. The mobilization power of the movement was shown by the sign-in book of the União Auxiliadora, which had around three thousand signatures, in addition to the many donations received by the strike fund organized by the trade.
Image description: The image is a black and white newspaper. It is divided into several sections with headings and texts. From top to bottom, there is a large, prominent title, "VIDA OPERARIA" (WORKING-CLASS LIFE). Below, there are several informative items about different unions and workers' associations. Each item has a heading and an explanatory text. The headings are highlighted and are followed by a horizontal line. The text is organized into paragraphs, with some words in bold for emphasis. There are no images or illustrations visible besides the text.Seção “Vida Operária” do jornal Correio da Manhã, em 1906. Correio da Manhã, Rio de Janeiro. Hemeroteca da Biblioteca Nacional
Despite the violence exercised by the police repression, the strike was kept up for more than two months. During the stoppage, the strikers promoted different forms of demonstration. The most important was a peaceful march, which brought together around four thousand workers, on October 11th. Faced with this resistance, the employers' only alternative was to accept the shoemakers' list of demands, and the workers emerged victorious.
Image description: The image is an old black-and-white newspaper. It is divided into two vertical columns. In the first column, there is a headline reading "A Gréve" prominently displayed. Below it, there is a detailed text about the shoemakers' strike, mentioning police interventions and negotiations between workers and industrialists. In the second column, there is more text on the subject, including the names of people and companies involved in the strike.Nota sobre a greve dos sapateiros em 1906. Correio da Manhã, Rio de Janeiro. Hemeroteca da Biblioteca Nacional
