摘要：The CUT(Unified Workers Central)currently main national trade union in Brazil was founded in August 1983, based in the defense of freedom and autonomy to fight against legacy of corporatism, established since the 1930’s. It is true that the union was partially successful, however that was not enough to provide a totally positive balance regarding the overcoming of this model in the country. The objective of this paper is to prove how CUT’s action during the period contributed to make increasingly complex the relationships between trade union and the State. During first stage of its course, action was characterized by the capacity to triumph over state corporatism; then, starting in the 1990’s,by earning a place in social participation, CUT added a neo-corporatism profile in its relationship with the State; and during Lula's government, recognition of central unions favored the appearance of elements of pluralism in competition among them, mediated by the State. Throughout CUT unionism course, different ways of relating with the State constituted not a succession, but a mix among them.
