Industrialization and the Birth of the Labor Movement (1830-1856)
The Organization of the Labor Movement (1830-1856)
The Impact of Industrial Modernization
The Industrial Revolution and the modernization of factories accelerated significantly after 1830. The development of the cotton industry and the first steel production attracted thousands of unemployed agricultural workers to the cities. These workers had been driven from their lands by war or the expropriation of their properties.
The result was a mass migration to cities starting in the 1840s, causing the rapid growth of working-class suburbs. In these suburbs, houses were often shacks where several families lived without sanitation, lighting, or cleaning services, resulting in subhuman conditions conducive to the emergence of contagious diseases.
Harsh Factory Conditions and Worker Life
Factory work was grueling. Workers rested only on Sundays, and men, women, and children (starting from 6 or 7 years old) worked for minimum wages under punishing conditions:
- Working hours ranged between 14 and 16 hours daily.
- Layoffs were common.
When workers were rendered unemployed, they often resorted to crime, causing widespread discomfort and a feeling of insecurity among the populace. The elimination of their unions in the 1830s had destroyed the entire system of mutual assistance and relief for workers.
Early Resistance and the Rise of Organization
Mechanization began in 1832 with the advent of the steam engine. The use of machinery allowed for the elimination of jobs, which brought about movements focused on the destruction of machinery (Luddism). The assailants were often farmers or fishermen looking for work. However, this movement had little impact.
Emergence of Labor Organizations (1830s and 1840s)
In the decades of the 1830s and 1840s, the first outlines of labor organization began to emerge:
- Corporate Training
- Mutual Aid Societies (Mutuas)
These groups helped spread the progressive ideas of Utopian Socialists. In 1839, the government allowed the establishment of workers' societies for charitable purposes. At first, they only sought to defend wages, without advancing further demands. However, the moderates banned most societies in 1844, forcing them into clandestinity.
Specific Demands and Early Media
Workers mistakenly attributed the industrial crisis and low wages to English competition. In those years, demands were very specific:
- Higher wages.
- Better safety conditions.
- Reduction of the working day.
Only a few were aware of the root of the problems. In the 1840s, the first worker newspapers were published. When a newspaper was banned by the government, it was reissued immediately under a different name.
The Progressive Biennium and Escalating Conflict (1854-1856)
During the Progressive Biennium, the mobilization of workers separated from that of their employers. After participating in the revolution by supporting the progressives, the labor movement experienced great development. In 1855, the conflict grew, and labor actions spread throughout Barcelona. The government response was repression.
Labor leaders called for:
- Recognition of the right of association.
- Reduction of working hours to 10 hours.
- Maintenance of existing job sites.
However, the labor bill approved by the courts practically defended the interests of employers, causing the conflict to continue rising into 1856. With the return of Narváez, worker associations were banned.
The result of the biennium was a clear demonstration to workers that the Progressive Party ultimately defended the interests of the employers.