Prazer e sofrimento no trabalho de maquinistas ferroviários de São Luís- MA

Abstract

The world of work has undergone transformations that require flexible attitudes from workers in order to intensify productivity. Neoliberal management modes appear in the daily practices of companies. The workers' routine is marked by the uncertainties inherent to the instabilities of the capitalist system, which in turn does not fail to cause impacts on subjectivity. At the beginning of modernization, the railway category was one of those responsible for trying to lead Brazil to economic development through logistical integration. Maranhão has a privileged geographic location, and rail transport, despite many delays, contributes to the state's development. However, due to current work configurations, the sector needed to adapt to new production principles. The objective of the research was to analyze the dynamics of pleasure and suffering in the work of railway drivers in São Luís do Maranhão. Methodologically, this is a descriptive research, which addresses the problem in a qualitative way. The theoretical and conceptual contributions of Work Psychodynamics (PDT) as well as Work Psychosociology were used. Ten (10) railway drivers who work in the city of São Luís, from two companies, participated in the research. Data collection was carried out through online interviews. The speeches were analyzed considering Critical Discourse Analysis, by the author Norman Fairclough, relating the contents with the assumptions of PDT. The results point to work that generates suffering in the face of long hours, uncertainty regarding the future of the profession, precarious working conditions, mandatory compliance with procedures, isolation, among other aspects; As for pleasure, the recognition of the importance of the profession, the challenge, the freedom provided by travel and the connection with other railway colleagues were some of the elements identified. In view of the factors that cause suffering, strategies for coping with work were analyzed, which mainly involve the use of practical intelligence. The interviewees are part of two different companies, but both are governed by neoliberal principles, which value productivity, adopting exploitative practices. Therefore, understanding the impacts of work on the subjectivity of railway drivers was possible through the analysis of social factors, which are mainly related to the organization of work.