This article reflects on role played by the Santos Stevedores' Union in the process of modernization of the Port of Santos. It discusses some important issues, such as the former and current importance of the union's history during the 20th century, its characteristics, proposals and position concerning port modernization. It analyzes the relationship between the modernization process of the Port of Santos and the Stevedores' Union in the globalized world, not only focusing on the past but also, from this perspective, trying to understand its historical role in the past and present standard of living of the port workers, in the history of the port itself and in the history of the socioeconomic development of the city of Santos. This article is a preliminary result of surveys still in progress focusing on the modernization of the Port of Santos, especially the institutional and labor changes that occurred in this process.
port modernization; stevedores' union; port of Santos; Ogmo; globalization
