The break‐up of the ‘socialist family’: Party‐union relations in Spain, 1982–89

Spanish trade unions have provided Felipe González's government with its main opposition since the mid‐1980s. This article focuses on the break‐up of the traditional symbiotic relationship between the Socialist Party (PSOE) and socialist union (UGT). Besides being a policy conflict between neo‐liberal ministers and defenders of social democratic values, the party‐union divorce is seen as a result of late and rapid role differentiation in a political system dominated by the parties. In spite of their general strike in 1988, the unions are shown to be at a disadvantage in the dispute. The PSOE could move further to the right if a new accommodation with the unions is not reached.