Worker Opposition

• Many Spanish workers became involved in illegal strikes during the 1960s. The majority of strikes focused on better pay and conditions rather than demands for political reform. Large-scale strikes first occurred in the Basque region and Barcelona in 1962. Illegal Worker Commissions were organised to protest against poor pay and by the late 1960s, strikes became more frequent. In 1968, it is estimated that over 1.1 million workers went on strike due to low wages.
• The worker's opposition organisations were effective because the supporters of Marxist ideas co-operated with radical Catholics who were demanding more social justice for workers.
• During the late 1960s, the police adopted more repressive methods when dealing with strikes. In June 1969, in Granada, police killed 3 strikers during a worker's dispute.
• The regime used the Syndical Organisation to identify militant leaders of the workers who encouraged strike action. Once identified, these workers would often be sacked. Following a wave of worker strikes in 1974, over 4000 workers were sacked for being alleged 'militants'.