From Retirantes [ou: migrants] to workers: labor, resistance and conflict in the works against the drought (1915-1919)

Abstract

When there is drought, lack of services for rural workers and the lack occupancy triggers a series of other problems. In 1915, one of main policies to combat this issue was the occupation of migrants in the construction of the nominated Committee Against the New Works Drought. Public authorities, intellectuals and other sectors of society found themselves troubled by the "multitude of hungry", starting the confinement of migrants in works of dams. However, the agglomerations of refugees pressured. These workers were not inert, they fought, complained to guarantee the right to survival.