Finding the north; Manuel Llaneza and the French influence on Spanish trades unionism in the early 20th century

Abstract

The first decade of the 20th century highlighted the inability of Asturian miners to create useful and lasting organizations, which were systematically destroyed by the companies after every unsuccessful strike due to their local character, poor organisation and lack of resources. In 1910, when the Asturian Mineworkers Union (SOMA) was founded, socioeconomic conditions had not substantially changed since the beginning of the century: working systems, workers and their living conditions were basically the same. However, SOMA succeeded where its predecessors hadn’t, and this success was due to the innovative structures and means of action imported by Manuel Llaneza from mines in the North of France, where he had worked the previous two years. These measures allowed him to create the first industrial trade union in Spain.