O trabalho como princípio educativo na experiência de organização coletiva da Cooperativa de Catadores dos Agentes Ambientais de Irati-PR

Abstract

In Brazil, it is estimated that between 800,000 and 1,000,000 people survive on the collection of recyclable materials, being responsible for the collection of 90% of all that is recycled today in the country. The establishment of the National Solid Waste Policy-PNRS promotes the incentive for the creation and development of cooperatives or other forms of association of waste collectors, which are now prioritized in the municipal selective waste collection programs. The problem that guides this study is to understand if, in the experience of collective organization of Cooperativa de Catadores dos Agentes Ambientais de Irati-PR work constitutes an educational principle that enables the subjects involved, from praxis, to establish a work culture as opposed to heterogeneity. The reference period is 2017-2018, however, it sought to learn the historical process of the cooperative since its constitution. The study takes a critical perspective, of an interdisciplinary character, of qualitative basis and counts on the bibliographical, documentary and field researches. Seven (07) cooperative workers and one (01) social educator who developed actions in the cooperative were interviewed. The interviews were recorded and transcribed preserving the original speech characteristics of each subject. The colloquial language reflects the life trajectory and the lived experiences and, therefore, is quite representative. In the presentation of the speeches the identity of the interviewed and the people mentioned was preserved. For analysis and treatment of the information generated by the research, it was opted for the technique of content analysis. Emerging thematic categories were: social exclusion (the cooperative worker), praxis (the path to associated production), work culture (the experience of work management) and work as an educational principle (the re-meaning of work). Cocaair's trajectory reveals that, in its historical movement, the cooperative presented a break in the management of the work process that paved the way for a new work culture. Cocaair is characterized by a collectivist management in which the following stand out: equality in terms of participation in the management of the work process; the possibility and freedom to organize the rhythm of production; collective decision-making, which is discussed at meetings and voted at assemblies; the equal distribution of the output of production; transparency in accountability. The rupture was possible (or potentiated) through the mediation of social educators of the Programa Ecocidadão Paraná, reinforcing the understanding that the practical possibilities of change and transformation of a reality are enhanced the better or deeper the theoretical apprehension of that reality. Self-management requires from the workers a movement of theoretical-critical and also practical-conscious consolidation. Cocaair workers - with low educational profile and qualification - face difficulties to appropriate the theoretical and methodological tools that help in the critical understanding of reality. If in one perspective it is possible to affirm work as an educational principle in the experience of collective organization of Cocaair, on the other, it is necessary to understand that this educational principle can (and should) be enhanced.