A tale of two cities: working class identity, industrial relations and community in declining textile and shoe industries in Spain

Abstract

This paper focuses on the way conflict and cooperation in industrial and community relations interrelate, and how the social space of practices contribute to the emergence of a common cultural heritage, whether it be a workers’ heritage or a civil heritage. Furthermore, the dynamics of industrial sectors contribute to the changing aspect and character of what will be recalled as heritage. This analysis outlines the role that industrial relations in textile and shoe manufacturing sectors has had for the configuration of cultural heritage in two declining industrial cities in Eastern Spain: Alcoy (textile) and Elda (shoes). Conflictual industrial relations inside factories were and are linked to cooperative social relations between ‘clashing’ industrialists and workers. This occurs in daily life through a strong industrial paternalism, and with a strong presence of company owners in the social activities of these cities. This ’weaves’ the community around the existence of the textile and shoe factories; a social consensus is sustained by an image of capital and labour as citizens and members of the same community. On the other hand, a common civic heritage has been configured through the folklore festivities of Moors and Christians, in which most city citizens participate irrespective of their social position, and in which the role of workers and industrialists has traditionally been very important. From a qualitative approach, this work analyses the dynamics experienced by these cities’ common heritage, and the specific role that workers’ cultural heritage has played in it.

Keywords:

• labour
• industrial heritage
• Spain
• deindustrialisation

Acknowledgements

This research emerges from an EU-sponsored project: ‘Space, place and the historical and contemporary articulations of regional, national and European identities through work and community in areas undergoing economic restructuring and regeneration’ (FP7, SSH8-5.2.01). See the national website, www.sphere-alacant.es, and the main project website, www.sphereeurope.eu. We would like to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their intense effort and their suggestions for improving our text and reflections.

Notes

1. Experts were drawn from local academic institutions (university professors and researchers). They were also key informants from the textile and shoe industrial sectors (factory owners and managers, union representatives), from cultural or religious associations, and local politicians and civil servants from Elda and Alcoy.

2. Focus groups were comprised of men and women between 20 and 35 years of age, mainly working in textile (Alcoy) and shoe companies (Elda). Unemployed workers and workers in other economic sectors from families with other members working in the textile and shoe sectors also took part. All the focus group participants were contacted through local social networks. Groups were developed in the cultural associations’ offices.

3. Within the last decade around 41.3% of employment in Elda was in the service sector, 1% in agriculture and 6.4% in the construction sector (Spanish National Statistics Institute 2004); 51.3% of employment was industrial and around 83.6% of this was in the shoe industry.

4. In Alcoy, within the last decade, around 53.6% of employment was in the service sector, 0.9% in agriculture and 8.3% in the construction sector (Spanish National Statistics Institute 2004). Also 37.9% of employment was industrial and around 52.5% of this was in the textile industry.

5. This ‘revolution’ was critically reflected upon by Friedrich Engels (1873), who analysed it as an example of Bakuninist methods and of what a revolutionary movement should not be.

6. The 2009 Moors and Christians Parades can be seen in the following documentaries – Alcoy in the first two and Elda in the last two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-oo5IRdxK0; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Zf8_J2UuE&feature=related; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-O8P4nbnMg; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNyETn1NO0M&feature=related.

7. Several of the abandoned factories are protected as ‘cultural sites’ (historical-artistic heritage) by the Valencian Autonomous Community (regional government) and must be preserved because of their sociocultural importance for Alcoy, although they continue to be in a terrible state of abandonment.