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Edited on Mon Jan-25-10 03:14 PM by BolivarianHero
The following is from a reading on protests in early-20th century Rio for my Modern Latin America course.
The extent to which the crowds had vandalised the transport system
was not surprising since hatred of the transport companies was something
of a long-standing tradition in Rio. Appallingly erratic service, poor wages
and terrible working conditions for drivers and ever-escalating fares for
passengers had caused a steady stream of strikes and protests during the 50 Teresa '5feade
Empire as well as under the Republic. In January 1900, several years
before the controversy over the public health plan surfaced, trolley drivers
on strike for better pay and shorter working hours had marched on the
Palace of Catete shouting 'vivas' for the monarchy and 'Death to the
Republic!"" The government had responded with 7 infantry battalions, 3
cavalry regiments and I artillery unit all set to destroy the strike." In
January I 902 and again in January 1904 streetcar operators had walked off
the job over a new head tax lexied on each mule or traction animal the
driver operated. In the latter case, drivers for the Companhia SZo
Christoviio, Companhia Vila Isabel, Iimpreza de Transportes e Car-
ruagens, and Companhia da Gaz all joined the strike. In response, the
Minister of Justice sent a total of 169 infantry and 108 cavalry units to each
police station, to the offices of the transport companies, and, interestingly,
the health department offices as an intimidating show of force against the
strikers. For nearly a week workers battled scabs and the police
throughout the city, set small fires on or near the tracks, and when
possible pulled scab drivers from the seats of cars and roughed them up.
In one case, striking drivers ambushed a scab-operated funeral wagon
during the procession to the cemetery, chased off the driver, overturned
the wagon and, to the dismay of the onlooking mourners, left casket and
wagon in the street. In another incident, strikers apprehended a wagon
belonging to the city dog catcher, frightened off the driver, freed the dogs,
and dumped the wagon in the Mangue Canal.
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