Blasco Ibáñez: Industrialization and Worker Conditions in Early 20th Century Spain
This text is a fragment of a novel by Blasco Ibáñez, a Valencian writer and novelist deeply involved in politics. He is considered a naturalistic author who vividly describes situations, especially the living conditions of workers. This is a first-hand account, as he describes a situation he knew well, reflecting the late 19th and early 20th centuries, around 1904, when industrialization was beginning in Spain.
The Rise of Industry
Industrialization in Spain began mainly after the end of the Carlist Wars, in the last third of the 19th century. The main sectors were the iron industry and related industries like shipbuilding, as well as mineral extraction. The mines of the Basque Country, particularly in Biscay, were key due to good communications, coastal location, and high-quality, non-phosphoric iron suitable for the Bessemer method. This method required non-phosphoric iron, and Biscay’s iron met this requirement. In contrast, iron extraction in Sweden was more difficult and less accessible to the coast, making Biscay’s iron the primary source.
Capital, Labor, and Migration
The sale of iron led to the accumulation of capital, which was then invested in developing industries and creating banks. However, the local population of the Basque Country was insufficient to meet the demand for workers in both mines and industries. As a result, many people migrated from the center of the peninsula. Initially, they came seasonally, seeking work when there was no agricultural work available. However, they soon realized they could find permanent jobs in the mines or industries and decided to move to the Basque Country. While there was a lot of money circulating, most of it was spent on rent, leaving workers in a state of barely surviving. Workers at this time faced very harsh living conditions.
Working and Living Conditions
The work, while not necessarily difficult, involved breaking and transporting minerals. It was considered unskilled labor, and anyone could do it. Workers endured very long hours, and not only men but also women and children were employed. Housing was poor, often lacking hygienic conditions. Workers were frequently forced to buy goods from canteens owned by the factory owners. The living quarters were often barracks, crowded with people and even animals, leading to the rapid spread of illnesses and health problems. Although salaries are not explicitly mentioned, the text implies that workers had very little money, as they could not afford new clothes and wore whatever they had.