Spanish Labor Movement and the Rise of Anarchism
The Birth of the Labor Movement in Spain
Early liberal legislation lacked regulations for labor relations and explicitly prohibited worker associations. Consequently, initial protests against the industrial system were violent, illegal, and spontaneous.
In the 1820s, machine-breaking emerged as an early form of worker revolt against new technologies blamed for job losses and declining wages. A notable incident was the burning of the Bonaplata factory in Barcelona.
Workers soon recognized that the root of their problems lay in the working conditions imposed by their employers. The focus of protests shifted to industrial relations, fighting for the right to associate and improved living and working conditions. This marked the beginning of worker associations.
Mutual Benefit Societies emerged, where workers contributed small fees for assistance in case of unemployment, illness, or death. The first was the Mutual Protection Society of Cotton Weavers, founded in 1840. These societies, while not true unions, provided a foundation for future worker organization.
Worker associations spread across Spain, demanding higher wages and reduced working hours. Strikes became a common tactic, and societies established funds to support striking workers. Strike activity increased in the 1840s and 1850s, culminating in the first general strike of 1855, sparked by the introduction of new spinning machines in Barcelona and spreading to other regions.
The Arrival of the International in Spain
Following the 1868 revolution, Giuseppe Fanelli introduced anarchist ideals, mistakenly presented as those of the International Workingmen’s Association (IWA). This led Spanish members to believe the IWA’s program aligned with anarchist principles, contributing to the spread of anarchism among Catalan workers and Andalusian peasants.
From 1869, worker associations proliferated, though not all joined the IWA. The first congress of the Spanish Regional Federation of the IWA (FRE-AIT) in 1870 solidified the anarchist influence, advocating for strikes as the primary tool of the proletariat and social revolution through direct action.
Crisis and Division within the FRE-AIT
In 1871, Paul Lafargue promoted Marxist internationalism, advocating for the working class’s conquest of political power. This led to a split within the FRE-AIT, culminating in the expulsion of the Marxist Madrid group in 1872 and the formation of a separate Marxist federation.
During this period, some anarchist groups attempted insurrections, which ultimately failed. The FRE-AIT declined, and the new regime declared it illegal in 1874.
The Rise of Political Anarchism
In 1881, the Spanish section of the International became the Federation of the Spanish Region (FRE) to comply with new laws. The FRE focused on industrial action, but internal disagreements and ongoing repression led some towards direct action and revolutionary groups.
The period from 1893 to 1897 witnessed significant social violence. Anarchists were accused of involvement with the Black Hand, a secret association operating in Andalusia. Attacks and riots were met with harsh repression, escalating the cycle of violence. The Montjuïc trials of 1897 in Barcelona, resulting in the execution of five anarchists, marked a turning point.
The violence deepened the divide within anarchism between proponents of direct action and those advocating for mass action. Veteran anarchists, intellectuals, and labor groups promoted social revolution through mass movements and the establishment of trade unions. This anarcho-syndicalist trend led to the creation of Solidaridad Obrera in 1907 and the CNT in 1910.