The port workers have fun: recreative organization of workers in the port of Rio de Janeiro in the first decades of twentieth century

Abstract: The early years of the century are marked by intense associational activity among workers. These associations, which could be very different, certainly contributed in some way for workers to identify themselves as part of the same world and to recognize employees. However, until recently the historiography has tended to only observe associations which provided for the workers’ struggle, as the unions. Analyzing the case of employees of the port of Rio de Janeiro, this article aims to examine other forms of organized labor, specifically the recreational nature, such as the carnival societies, dance clubs, etc. and ranches. I seek here to demonstrate the associative diversity of those workers, calling attention to the fact that multiple identities - the perceived diversity of organizations - did not prevent one class identity.

Keywords:
port workers; carnival organizations.