Workers Seeking Rights in the Labor Courts of Paraná (1940–1950)
Labor Court; Workers; Second World War; Labor Legislation.
This research examines the trajectory of male and female workers in their pursuit of rights before the Labor Court of Paraná between 1940 and 1950. We analyze the lengthy process of establishing and consolidating the labor tribunal in the state, showing that the rise in legal claims, together with Paraná’s administrative dependence on the Regional Labor Court of São Paulo (TRT-2), generated significant regional tensions. These tensions were amplified by the press, which denounced procedural delays while simultaneously reinforcing the necessity and legitimacy of strengthening the Labor Court within Paraná. We also demonstrate how the Second World War directly affected immigrant workers from Axis countries, who were dismissed under political suspicion amid the repressive measures imposed by the Estado Novo regime. These groups turned to the Labor Court to challenge dismissals and injustices, and their cases reveal both the climate of surveillance that prevailed during the period and the strategies of resistance and defense adopted by the workers. Finally, we present the profile of Paraná’s workforce and the main labor conflicts of the period, highlighting their occupations and core demands.