Asturian miners' strike of 1934

Asturian miners' strike of 1934 was a major labor uprising that took place in Asturias, Spain, involving miners from the region, particularly those from the Sociación de Mineros Asturianos and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo. The strike was closely linked to the broader Spanish Revolution of 1934, which saw significant unrest and protests across Spain, including the Revolutionary Catalonia and the Basque Country. Key figures such as Largo Caballero and Buenaventura Durruti played important roles in the events leading up to and during the strike, which was also influenced by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Anarchist Federation of Iberia.

Background

The Second Spanish Republic, established in 1931 after the fall of Alfonso XIII, was marked by significant social and political upheaval, including the Spanish general election, 1933, which saw the rise of conservative forces such as the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas led by José María Gil-Robles y Quiñónes. This shift towards conservatism was met with resistance from trade unions like the Unión General de Trabajadores and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, which had strong ties to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Anarchist Federation of Iberia. The Asturian miners, who were primarily affiliated with the Sociación de Mineros Asturianos, were particularly affected by the economic downturn and the conservative policies of the Spanish government, led by Alejandro Lerroux and his Radical Republican Party.

Causes of the Strike

The immediate causes of the strike were rooted in the economic crisis of 1934, which severely impacted the mining industry in Asturias, as well as the introduction of conservative labor laws by the Spanish government, which were seen as an attack on workers' rights by labor unions such as the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo and the Unión General de Trabajadores. The miners, who were already facing poor working conditions and low wages, were further provoked by the government's decision to reduce unemployment benefits and to restrict the right to strike action, moves that were supported by conservative parties like the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas and opposed by left-wing parties such as the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Spain. Key figures like Largo Caballero and Buenaventura Durruti played significant roles in organizing the strike, which was also influenced by the Anarchist Federation of Iberia and the Revolutionary Catalonia.

The Strike

The strike began on October 4, 1934, with miners from across Asturias participating, including those from the Sociación de Mineros Asturianos and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo. The strike quickly gained momentum, with workers from other industries, such as metallurgy and construction, joining in solidarity, and was supported by labor unions like the Unión General de Trabajadores and the Anarchist Federation of Iberia. The strike was marked by significant violence, with clashes between striking workers and security forces, including the Civil Guard and the Spanish Army, which was led by General Francisco Franco and had the support of conservative parties like the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas. The strike also saw the establishment of a revolutionary committee in Oviedo, which was composed of representatives from the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, the Anarchist Federation of Iberia, and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, and was influenced by the Revolutionary Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Government Response

The Spanish government, led by Alejandro Lerroux and his Radical Republican Party, responded to the strike with force, deploying the Spanish Army and the Civil Guard to Asturias to quell the uprising, and was supported by conservative parties like the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas. The government also declared a state of emergency and imposed martial law in the region, which was enforced by General Francisco Franco and had the support of fascist groups like the Falange Española. The response was marked by significant brutality, with reports of human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings by security forces, which were condemned by left-wing parties such as the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Spain.

Aftermath

The strike was eventually crushed by the Spanish government, with the revolutionary committee in Oviedo being dissolved and many of its leaders, including Largo Caballero and Buenaventura Durruti, being arrested and imprisoned, and was a significant blow to the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Anarchist Federation of Iberia. The aftermath of the strike saw a significant increase in repression and censorship in Spain, with the Spanish government cracking down on left-wing parties and labor unions, and was supported by conservative parties like the Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas. The strike also had significant implications for the Spanish Civil War, which broke out in 1936, with many of the same figures and parties involved, including General Francisco Franco and the Nationalist forces, and was influenced by the Revolutionary Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Legacy

The Asturian miners' strike of 1934 is remembered as a significant event in Spanish history, marking a turning point in the Spanish Revolution of 1934 and the lead-up to the Spanish Civil War, and is still commemorated by left-wing parties such as the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and the Communist Party of Spain. The strike is also seen as an important example of workers' resistance and social movement activism, with its legacy continuing to inspire labor unions and social justice movements around the world, including the Anarchist Federation of Iberia and the Revolutionary Catalonia. The strike has been the subject of numerous books and films, including works by George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway, and continues to be studied by historians and scholars of Spanish history and labor studies, including those at the University of Oviedo and the Complutense University of Madrid. Category:Spanish history Category:Labor disputes Category:Spanish Civil War