Estamos transportando vida! : trajetórias e experiências de motoristas e colaboradores do transporte coletivo urbano de Uberlândia

Abstract

This dissertation approaches how Uberlândia s bus drivers and conductors work and live. In order to discuss these subjects the newspapers Correio de Uberlândia, Primeira Hora and some issues of the Trasncol s internal bulletin, called Transcolito, were analysed. Some interviews with trasnport workers were recorded. In these interviews, they talked about their work and life experiences. These interviews allow the construction of many interpretations about their own life as workers in the historical process (period 1980-2004). The group of bus drivers and conductors interviewed is formed by immigrants that arrived in Uberlândia from 1980 s to the beginning of 1990 s booking for better life and work conditions. The work reality in urban transport is troulbesome. The bus trasnportation is organized by Uberlândia´s city hall, but is performed by private enterprises and used by poor citizens. Then, the urban transport is involved in a complex social dynamic. On the otherhand, the profits are the central goal. Because of this the works start to face exploiting work conditions. They work overtime and they are controlled by many different ways like the eletronic ratchet. Finally the passangers are also dannaged in their transportation need around the urban space. Despite they can be, some times, friends of the conductors and bus drivers.