Artigo



Dados vol. 26 n. 3 Rio de Janeiro 1983

Reajustes Salariais na Indústria e a Lei Salarial de 1979: Uma Nota Empírica

Cunha, Paulo Vieira da

Resumo

Using data from a sample of large firms from São Paulo, this paper establishes two aspects that are relevant for the analysis of the effects of the union movement and the wage policy's guidelines upon the current inflationary process. It demonstrates that (i) from the second quarter of 1978 onwards (hence coincidently with the intensification of labor conflicts but not of inflation) wage hikes granted by the firms are substantially higher than those prescribed by the statutory wage policy (Law 6.147, of 1974); (ii) the wage law of November, 1979, in fact eliminated the gap between entrepreneurial practice and legal determination. The author concludes that, at least where large firms are concerned, the new wage policy ratified rather than changed current contractual practices. Therefore, it is suggested that the law could not have caused the inflationary acceleration but that it resulted instead from the intensification of a distributive conflict between capital and labor. Finally, it is also suggested that the law represents an attempt by the state to regain its position, finally assured by labor laws, as a regulator and final referee of that conflict.

Texto completo

Reajustes Salariais na Indústria e a Lei Salarial de 1979: Uma Nota Empírica