Spain's working class is being laughed at
Analysis of the debate on the loss of class consciousness in Spain, with historical references to the Asturian Revolution and changes in how work is perceived.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Spanish working class and its capacity to threaten: why is it no longer antiestéticared?
An economics thread argues that wages are set neither by productivity nor by the market, but by workers' capacity for pressure. In Spain, that capacity is said to have diluted to the point where the working class is treated as "disposable trash". The debate centres on the loss of class consciousness and trade union passivity, with historical references to the 1934 Asturian Revolution as an example of effective struggle.
The lost class consciousness
One of the main arguments is that today's Spanish worker lacks class consciousness. He is described as a "sojas" (a forum slang term for a passive conformist) concerned only with leisure and personal relationships, incapable of organising to defend his rights. By contrast, the epic of the 1934 Asturian revolution is mentioned, where miners won social gains through the threat of force and direct action. The conclusion is that without antiestéticar of conflict, employers have no incentive to improve conditions.
Work as a shifting stigma
Another highlighted point is the evolution in the perception of certain trades. Thirty-five years ago, being a street sweeper was considered dignified work; today it is a source of mockery. This change reflects the degradation of private-sector employment and the loss of status of the working class. While the public sector retains some stability, the private sector has become precarious, and with it, workers' self-esteem.
The question left hanging is whether Spanish workers will ever regain the bargaining power they once had, or whether the culture of individualism and passivity has come to stay. Meanwhile, the laughter from the elites continues.
Related debates in the forum
An economics thread argues that wages are set neither by productivity nor by the market, but by workers' capacity for pressure. In Spain, that capacity is said to have diluted to the point where the working class is treated as "disposable trash". The debate centres on the loss of class consciousness and trade union passivity, with historical references to the 1934 Asturian Revolution as an example of effective struggle.
The lost class consciousness
One of the main arguments is that today's Spanish worker lacks class consciousness. He is described as a "sojas" (a forum slang term for a passive conformist) concerned only with leisure and personal relationships, incapable of organising to defend his rights. By contrast, the epic of the 1934 Asturian revolution is mentioned, where miners won social gains through the threat of force and direct action. The conclusion is that without antiestéticar of conflict, employers have no incentive to improve conditions.
Work as a shifting stigma
Another highlighted point is the evolution in the perception of certain trades. Thirty-five years ago, being a street sweeper was considered dignified work; today it is a source of mockery. This change reflects the degradation of private-sector employment and the loss of status of the working class. While the public sector retains some stability, the private sector has become precarious, and with it, workers' self-esteem.
The question left hanging is whether Spanish workers will ever regain the bargaining power they once had, or whether the culture of individualism and passivity has come to stay. Meanwhile, the laughter from the elites continues.
Related debates in the forum
- Two Colombian minors arrested for stabbing a 19-year-old woman in Alicante during an attempted robbery · 29 replies
- THE UCO HAS JUST ENTERED THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE GUARDIA CIVIL! · 181 replies
- Things are getting ugly in Tehran · 80346 replies
- No matter how much you moan on TV, radio and social media, the democratically elected Government will not be overthrown. · 36 replies
Also available in: Deutsch
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (14 replies).
More summaries
-
Spanish Working Class: Wages Fail to Accelerate, Even During Economic Boom
Neither in crisis nor boom does the Spanish working class see their salaries improve, as housing costs consume any wage gains.
-
Working Class Divided Over Ceuta Crisis
The Ceuta crisis divides the working class: some say they have no homeland, others that they only have the State. An analysis of positions and background...
-
Spain's middle class can no longer afford housing or a car
OECD statistics fail to capture the decline of the middle class in Spain: no homes or new cars, while car registrations rise by 3.7%.
-
Roberto Vaquero vs John_mh: the battle shaking the public sphere
John_mh's video against Roberto Vaquero exposes the war of ideological converts: sincerity or strategy? The battle that shakes the public sphere.
-
Who checks the postal votes of Spain's newest citizens
Registration on the CERA roll is voluntary, yet it is demanded when renewing a passport. Who verifies that postal votes from newly naturalised Spaniards are genuine?
-
Mari Carmen decree halts eviction even though tenant left, leaving a brothel behind
A tweet describes an eviction suspension under RDL 39/2026 even though the tenant claimed to have moved out and left third parties in the flat. What the rule means.