The CONTAG was founded on December 22, 1963 in Rio de Janeiro. At the time there were 14 associations and 475 rural workers' unions. With the 1964 military coup, the federation and its unions were taken over by the government. Many union leaders were imprisoned or forced into exile. However, by 1968 the organization began to act independently and encouraged the formation of rural unions and federations in Brazil. The number of rural unions grew from 625 in 1968 to 2144 in 1980.