Trabajadores «dignos» en profesiones «honradas»: los oficios y la formación de la clase obrera barcelonesa (1899-1914)

Abstract

The article argues that rather than, as has often been the case, seeing unskilled labourers as the key to the radicalism, of labour politics in Barcelona during the early years of the century, more attention should be paid to the skilled labour force. Artisans were at the forefront of labour agitation between 1899 and 1914. As they had undertaken an apprenticeship and learnt a trade, and often operated within the more stable employment environment, they were in a stronger position to form unions than unskilled and casual workers. The author maintains that in larger workshops and on construction sites relations between these skilled men and their employers could be highly volatile. The advance of capitalist relations of production led to growing pressure being placed on workers. This led to growing antagonism within the workplace with the result that both skilled workers and their employers looked to strengthen their own organisations. In the more conflictive trades these workers also partially overcame gremial exclusiveness and mobilised the less skilled to structure industrial federations and broader labour confederations. This was at the root of the foundation of the CNT in 1910.