Basque Workers' Solidarity
Encyclopedia
Basque Workers' Solidarity (in Basque
: Eusko Langileen Alkartasuna (ELA), in Spanish
: Solidaridad de Trabajadores Vascos(STV)) is the most influential trade union
in Basque Country
, having been created, as Solidaridad de Obreros Vascos, by members of the Basque Nationalist Party
on June 10, 1911, in Bilbao
http://www.euskonews.com/0036zbk/efem3601.html.
It has been opposed to the influence of trade unions who appealed to a working class
ethos
(Socialist UGT
and Anarchist CNT
), advocating instead a Basque nationalist
outlook. Initially, ELA-STV was centered on projects of mutual assistance between its affiliates, as a vehicle for social security
. It expanded with much more success in Guipúzcoa and Biscay
than in Navarre
and Álava
.
ELA-STV was caught in the fighting of the Spanish Civil War
, and banned by the Franco dictatorship. It reemerged in 1976, during the transition to democracy
. Today, it has over 100,000 members.
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
: Eusko Langileen Alkartasuna (ELA), in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Solidaridad de Trabajadores Vascos(STV)) is the most influential trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, having been created, as Solidaridad de Obreros Vascos, by members of the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
on June 10, 1911, in Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
http://www.euskonews.com/0036zbk/efem3601.html.
It has been opposed to the influence of trade unions who appealed to a working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
ethos
Ethos
Ethos is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology. The Greeks also used this word to refer to the power of music to influence its hearer's emotions, behaviors, and even morals. Early Greek stories of...
(Socialist UGT
Unión General de Trabajadores
The Unión General de Trabajadores is a major Spanish trade union, historically affiliated with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party .-History:...
and Anarchist CNT
Confederación Nacional del Trabajo
The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo is a Spanish confederation of anarcho-syndicalist labor unions affiliated with the International Workers Association . When working with the latter group it is also known as CNT-AIT...
), advocating instead a Basque nationalist
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
outlook. Initially, ELA-STV was centered on projects of mutual assistance between its affiliates, as a vehicle for social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
. It expanded with much more success in Guipúzcoa and Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
than in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
and Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
.
ELA-STV was caught in the fighting of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, and banned by the Franco dictatorship. It reemerged in 1976, during the transition to democracy
Spanish transition to democracy
The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state. The transition is usually said to have begun with Franco’s death on 20 November 1975, while its completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish...
. Today, it has over 100,000 members.