|
Welcome
to UGT’s Official Web Site
The
General Union of Workers (UGT) is one of the most important trade unions
in Spain. It is more than 100 years old because it was founded in 1888.
It represents millions of workers from all sectors of production in the
whole national territory. Apart from the wage-earning workers, UGT also
includes the unemployed people, the freelance workers, the executives
and the pensioners, among other ones.
UGT
is a big Union that has not stopped seeking for remarkable improvements
within the framework of work and social welfare. It is its vocation to
represent the biggest number of people (young people, women, new
occupied, excluded, immigrants). It also the Union itself that offers a
wide range of services to its members (legal protection, leisure
activities, etc.).
UGT’s
official web site, which you are visiting now, reflects the main worries
and concerns of the Union, and offers, among other utilities, lots of
information about the activities of the trade-union, as well as the
latest produced documents, press releases and current events carried out
by UGT (UGT en la prensa). It arranges almost 1.800 links of
interest for workers and internet users in general.
UGT
is a founder member of the International Confederation of Free Trade
Union (ICFTU) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). Its
General Secretary, Cándido Méndez, is currently the President of ETUC
within a four year mandate.
We
hope that this site will be of interest to you because we constantly try
to improve it and keep it up to date. Do not hesitate to contact us when
necessary. Why not join us?
1888:
On August 12th the General Union of Workers is founded in Barcelona, by,
among others workers of the typographic sector, Pablo Iglesias.
1890:
It is the first time that we celebrate in Spain the 1st of
May (in Barcelona, Madrid and Bilbao).
1899:
During the
VI Congress, UGT decides to transfer its central seat from Barcelona to
Madrid.
1909:
On July 26th a General Strike takes place against the war of Morocco.
1910:
Pablo Iglesias is elected deputy (representative), being the first
worker member of Parliament in the history of Spain.
1911:
Constitution
of the first national unions (minors and railway employees). UGT is
rapidly growing and counts 100.000 members, it is the time of the
creation of the labour cooperatives, the educational centres and leisure
activities of the trade union known as "Casas del Pueblo
".
1917:
UGT organises a general strike in August 10th. The members of the Strike
Committee (Largo Caballero, Saborit and Anguiano) are sentenced to life
imprisonment.
1919:
Largo Caballero and Besteiro participate in the foundation of the ILO.
1921:
UGT decides not to adhere to the IIIth International.
1925:
On December 9th, Pablo Iglesias dies.
1928:
We
establish that the National Unions of Industry are the organizational
base of the trade union.
1931:
Largo Caballero becomes Minister of Employment of the Republic and sets
up the laws on the duration of working time (8 hours a day), minimum
wage, labour standards associations, etc.
1936:
UGT calls up to the general strike against military “coup d'état”
lead by Franco. Largo Caballero chairs the Government of the Republic,
in an attempt to unite all the labour forces to fight against the
military uprising.
1939:
On April 1st, with the victory of the pro-Franco forces, the trade-union
work begins in the exile and the clandestinely (underground).
1944:
November, I Congress in exile.
1945:
Constitution of the first Executive Committee in the underground. UGT
participates in the creation of the World Association of Trade Unions
(FIM).
1949:
III Congress in exile. Foundation of the ICFTU, UGT is one of its
founder members.
1951:
IV
Congress in exile. Strike in Barcelona against the increase of the price
of the tram tickets.
1961:
Creation, in May, of the Trade-union Alliance formed by UGT, the CNT and
STV.
1962:
VIII
Congress in exile. Wave of strikes in all Spain (miners in Asturias and
metal workers in the Basque country, Catalonia, Madrid and León).
1971:
XI Congress in exile in August. The Executive Board of UGT, which
emanates from this congress, is formed by three persons from inside of
the country (non-exiled and secret), Nicolás Redondo is among them.
1973:
XII Congress, it is the last one that takes place outside of country and
members who live in Spain and members who are in exile form the elected
direction. This year the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is
founded, UGT is a founder member.
1976:
From 15
till 18 April takes place in Madrid (Biarritz Restaurant) the XXX
Congress, the first one which takes place in Spain since 1939, after the
"bracket" of the dictatorship. This congress was foreseen to
be held in Brussels under the number XIII, but because it can take place
in Spain, it becomes the 30th. On July 23rd, UGT, Workers Commissions
(CC.OO.) and USO participate in the creation of the Coordination of
Trade Unions (COS).
1977:
On January 24th, UGT takes out of COS. On March 30th the
representatives’ vote for a Statutory order which recognizes the
freedom to be member of a trade union, ending with 40 years of
obligatory union membership. On April 28th we legalize the existence of
UGT, USO and the Workers Commissions. On December 18th begins the
Congress of unification between UGT and a sector of USO.
1978:
In January and February the first trade-union elections take place. From
May 25th till 28th XXXI Congress takes place in Barcelona. On December
6th takes place the referendum on the Spanish Constitution which is
approved by 87,79 % of the voters.
1980:
On January
5th, UGT and the CEOE (Spanish employers confederation) sign the
Confederate Framework Agreement (AMI). On March 10th, we approve the
Status of the Workers.
1981:
On February 23rd takes place the aborted “coup d'état” of Colonel
Antonio Tejero. On June 9th we sign the National Agreement on the
Employment (ANE) between UGT, Workers Commissions, CEOE and Government.
1982:
On October 28th, PSOE (Spanish socialist party) wins the General
election. On October 30th, the IMAC publishes the results of the
trade-union elections that took place from January 1st till October 15th
(UGT 36,7%, Workers Commissions 33,4%, USO 4,6%). On December 22nd, the
Congress of representatives begins to study a bill on the reduction of
working time (40 hours a week) and 30 days of paid holydays.
1983:
On February 15th we sign a confederate Agreement (AI) between UGT,
Workers Commissions, CEOE and CEPYME (employers of small and
medium-sized companies). On March 9th the IMAC publishes the definitive
results of the trade-union elections with a clear victory of the UGT.
From 1st till 5 June XXXIII Congress takes place in Madrid. On October
13th, the Government, trade unions and employers grant to introduce the
negotiations as regards the dialogue of the next years.
1987:
On April 25th occurs a wild attempt of the ETA against "Casa del
Pueblo" (local seat of UGT and PSOE) of Portugalete in the Basque
country, two members of the syndicate are murdered. On October 20th,
Nicolás Redondo, General Secretary of the UGT, and Antón Saracibar,
Secretary of Organization of the trade union give up their
representative's seat of the PSOE, disagreeing on the General Budget of
the State 1988. For the same reason on October 28th, the UGT-Andalucía’s
General Secretary, Cándido Méndez resigns from his seat of regional
representative and on November 19th Emilio Castro by way of even for his
PSOE’s senator seat.
1988:
First Centennial of UGT. On December 14th the whole country stops
because of biggest general strike of its history. More than 8 million
workers strike to the appeal of trade unions against the economic policy
of the socialist government.
1989:
In
February, the negotiations between the Government and the trade unions
are definitively broken because there is no possible agreement on 4
essential points of demand, which had motivated the general strike of
December 14th. On April 25th, the Confederate Executive Committee
decides not to support PSOE during the European elections. The 1st May
is celebrated, after 6 years of separations, in a unitarian way with the
Workers Commissions. It is the first time that PSOE and the Socialist
Youth organisation are not invited.
1992:
In March take place " 18 days of black walking " miners of
Ponferrada to Madrid. On April 3rd, the socialist government adopts a
decreet (known under the name of "Decretazo") on the
protection of the unemployed, imposed without consulting the tripartite
existing structures of management and control in Spain, it motivates a
general half-day strike on May 28th.
1994:
On January 27th another general strike takes place against the reform of
the labour market, it is the third time that it takes place against a
socialist government. From April 7th to 10th, during the 36th
Congress of the trade union, Cándido Méndez is elected General
Secretary of UGT replacing Nicolás Redondo.
1996:
On January 6th, UGT and Workers Commissions and two main
organisations of employers reach a known agreement on the
extra-judiciary solution of industrial disputes, which is in force on
February 11th. On May 15th both trade unions present a common document
"For a stable, employ with rights " which opens in a formal
way the social dialogue process.
1997:
On March 16th the first euro-demonstration of the European history takes
place in Brussels, in favour of employment and against disparities in
Europe to the appeal of ETUC. On April 28th, trade unions and employers
sign the Agreement for the Stability of Employment and the Collective
bargaining.
1998:
From March 11th to 14th the 37th Congress of UGT
takes place, during which Cándido Méndez is re-elected, General
Secretary.
2000:
On January 26th, UGT presents the campaign " Guaranteed for all in
employment and protection ", the trade union analyses the first
legislature of the Popular Party (government) and formulate propositions
to improve employment and social welfare in Spain.
2001:
On
June 21st, UGT organizes a gigantic trade unionist’s assembly with
activist from all parts of Spain, in Madrid’s Plaza Mayor against the
social policy of Aznar’s government. During this year numerous strikes
turned out to be successful in all activity sectors, student
mobilizations and in the public service against various measures imposed
by the Government.
2002:
From
March 13th till 16th, the 38th Congress takes place which
adopts an "Action Program" for the coming 4 years as well as a
"Fundamental Program" which contains ideological bases for the
union in the future.
The
Government tries to impose a reform of labour market (on protection
unemployment and basic employment laws) through a Decree, on May 24th,
what motivates a general strike on June 20th in all the country and in
all the sectors of economic activity. The success of this strike obliges
the Government to overrule the decree and make a ministerial change. The
teaching world and the students mobilize, by strikes and demonstrations,
at the end of the year against the Law on the Quality of Education.
2003:
At the beginning of the year, the social mobilization becomes more
marked, notably against the environmental disaster of the Prestige’s
wreck and the imminent war in Iraq. UGT starts up a campaign against
this inequitable war and, following the deposits of ETUC, organizes
several symbolic 15 minutes stops in the companies of the country. This
campaign gave birth to a general strike, on April 10th, of 2 hours
according to working schedule, against the economic and social
repercussions of that war. Discounts on salaries from this strike are
channelled by the UGT to succeed in the boxes of non-profit associations
which are loaded with the reconstruction of Iraq.
On
May 29th, during the 10th Statutory Congress, ETUC elects Cándido Méndez,
President of the Confederation for the next 4 years mandate. It is the
first time that a Spanish trade unionist occupies a post of
responsibility in the management of ETUC.
|
