Broadening contexts: Spanish trade unionism in the face of the economic crisis and technological change, 1970-1987. The case of Comisiones Obreras

ABSTRACT

This article explores the response of the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) during the challenging period of economic crisis coinciding with Spain’s transition to democracy and concurrent technological advancements. It reveals that the deliberations within the union went beyond mere economic demands and resistance to industrial changes, embodying a variety of viewpoints in line with broader institutional shifts in the country. The investigation subsequently turns towards a comprehensive analysis of the definitions and ideas expressed within CCOO, particularly during the period from 1978 to 1987. Drawing upon documents from Confederation Secretariat sessions and publications in the Union Gazette (Gaceta Sindical), this research uncovers the nuanced perspectives and considerations driving the union’s stance amidst a backdrop of economic upheaval and technological transformations.

KEYWORDS:

• Spanish trade unionism
• economic downturn
• democratic transition
• technological advancements

Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to the editor of Labor History and the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and suggestions on the manuscript. Additionally, we extend our sincere appreciation to the officials of the Labour History Archive at the Fundación 1 de Mayo, Madrid, particularly José Babiano, Coro Lomas, and José Antonio de Mingo, for their invaluable assistance and unwavering support during the research process that informs this paper

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Cámara de Comercio de España/CGE. Upon Spain’s entry into the European Economic Community in 1986, significant challenges were encountered, including issues like the reduction or halting of basic industry, high inflation, increasing unemployment, and market deregulation. In 1988, the major trade unions, CCOO and UGT, managed to propose policies that were more autonomous from their political affiliations, aiming to foster unity of action. For more details, see: Köhler (2018).

2. In 1983, José Joaquín Almunia Amann – Minister of Labor and Social Welfare for PSOE – outlined a set of measures designed to promote employment. He emphasized the need to address and rectify the rigidity and inflexibility in labor practices, which involved substantial improvements in employment management and the removal of obstacles impeding the mobility of workers. Senate Journal of Sessions, Labor Committee, Session No. 7 (informative), March 17, 1983, page 8. These measures aligned with the recommendations put forth by the OECD Expert Group on ‘Labor Market Flexibility’ three years later. OECD Expert Group, ‘Labor Market Flexibility,’ page 87.

3. The 1987 congress suggested the development of procedures intended to control and regulate the gathering of information concerning individual workers, along with the management of how this information could be utilized. Gaceta Sindical. 1987. IV Congreso Confederal CC.OO. p. 35.

Additional information

Funding

This article received support from the Research Project funded by ANID - National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development Chile, under FONDECYT Grant No. 1220125 led by Prof. Claudio Llanos-Reyes.

Notes on contributors

Claudio Llanos-Reyes

Claudio Llanos-Reyes is a Professor of Contemporary History at the Institute of History of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. He is a Georg Forster Research Fellow-Humboldt Foundation, Germany. His research focuses on political history and labor history, with a particular emphasis on the processes of transformation (flexibilization and precarization) in forms and conditions of work since the late twentieth century. In addition to numerous articles, his latest book is De la era del estado a la era del mercado, published by Ril Editores in Santiago in 2023.

José Antonio González-Pizarro

José Antonio González-Pizarro is an academic, researcher, and Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Legal Sciences, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile. His research spans 250 publications in articles and books, encompassing topics such as the history of mining, international relations, and the history of law, among others. His latest co-authored book, Historia de la Ciencia y la Tecnología en Chile, was published by Editorial Universitaria in 2023 as Volume II.

Marcial Sánchez-Mosquera

Marcial Sánchez-Mosquera is an associate professor at the University of Seville. He holds a PhD in Applied Economic Analysis and History and Economic Institutions. His research interests include economic history, economic and labour institutions, labour market, social dialogue, and social and economic actors. He has published the results of his research in European Journal of Industrial Relations, Economic and Industrial Democracy, The Economic and Labour Relations Review, Journal of Industrial Relations, Latin American Perspectives, Revista de Historia Industrial/Industrial History Review, and Cuadernos de Relaciones Laborales, among others.