Union oligarchization and bureaucratization in the 21st century: the case of the APEOC union

Abstract

This text seeks to understand the conflicts of representation involving the APEOC Union, which is based on teachers from the state basic education network of Ceará. Analyzing these conflicts from the perspective of the stability/turnover of union leaders, it aims to understand phenomena such as the oligarchization and bureaucratization of the entity at the beginning of the 21st century. The methods employed were: documentary research in statutes, minutes, and documents related to an election of the APEOC union; floating observations in environments of interaction of the teaching category, such as assemblies and meetings; and bibliographic method. Some findings include: the APEOC union shows signs of oligarchization and bureaucratization, as there is evidence that the political group in charge at the time of the research created means to prevent other political groups from contesting the entity's election, through statutory reform without the presence of members, thus guaranteeing their indefinite control of the union. Similarly, the way assemblies are convened has made it impossible for the agenda to escape the control of the leadership, preventing the members from deliberating on matters inconvenient for the group that controls the union.