Émile Basly
Encyclopedia
Émile Basly
Émile Basly (March 29, 1854 in Valenciennes
, France
– February 11, 1928 in Lens
, France) is one of the great figures of trade union
ism in mining in the mineral field of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, along with Arthur Lamendin. He is primarily known for his participation in the strike
of 1884, when he became known as "the untameable miner" and "the tsar
of Lens". He was the inspiration for the character Etienne Lantier in Emile Zola
's novel Germinal.
Basly entered mining as a galibot (minor
) at the age of twelve. After the creation of the Trade Union
of the minors of Anzin
in 1882, Basly became its secretary
, and subsequently its president in 1891. He became mayor
of Lens
in 1900, and devoted the last ten years of his life to rebuilding the city, which had been completely destroyed during First World War
. He continued to serve as mayor until his death in 1928.
Rue Émile Basly is a street, named in his honor, in Avion
.
Émile Basly (March 29, 1854 in Valenciennes
Valenciennes
Valenciennes is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt river. Although the city and region had seen a steady decline between 1975 and 1990, it has since rebounded...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– February 11, 1928 in Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
, France) is one of the great figures of 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...
ism in mining in the mineral field of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, along with Arthur Lamendin. He is primarily known for his participation in the strike
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
of 1884, when he became known as "the untameable miner" and "the tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
of Lens". He was the inspiration for the character Etienne Lantier in Emile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
's novel Germinal.
Basly entered mining as a galibot (minor
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
) at the age of twelve. After the creation of the 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...
of the minors of Anzin
Anzin
Anzin is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies on the Scheldt, 1-½ miles northwest of Valenciennes, of which it is a suburb.-History:...
in 1882, Basly became its secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
, and subsequently its president in 1891. He became mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Lens
Lens, Pas-de-Calais
Lens is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is one of France's large Picarde cities along with Lille, Valenciennes, Amiens, Roubaix, Tourcoing, Arras, and Douai.-Metropolitan area:...
in 1900, and devoted the last ten years of his life to rebuilding the city, which had been completely destroyed during First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He continued to serve as mayor until his death in 1928.
Rue Émile Basly is a street, named in his honor, in Avion
Avion, Pas-de-Calais
Avion is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:An ex-coalmining industrial town, with a little farming, situated just south of Lens at the junction of the N17, D40 and D55 roads.-Population:...
.