Against labor paternalism: industrial bourgeoisie in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and labor relations in Brazil

Abstract

This article analyzes political positions of the industrial bourgeoisie in the State of Rio Grande do Sul related to two current issues in discussions about labor relations in Brazil during the second government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2007 - 2010): a Proposed Constitutional Amendment which predicted the reduction of workload in the country for 40 hours a week and the State minimum wage establishment. If, on the one hand, the analysis registers the capacity of the industrial bourgeoisie to act as an organized social collective force, on the other hand it indicates that the principles of privatization, deregulation and flexibility legitimized their political positions upon labor relations during that period.