''Asociación Obrera Asambleista'' (Assemblyist Workers Association, abbreviated AOA) was a

trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...

movement in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. AOA was linked to the

Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) The Communist Party of Spain (Marxist–Leninist) ( es, Partido Comunista de España (marxista-leninista)) is an anti-revisionist Marxist–Leninist communist party in Spain, founded in 2006 by the ''Statewide Coordination of Communist Organiza ...

and the

Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front The Revolutionary Antifascist Patriotic Front (FRAP) (''Frente Revolucionario Antifascista y Patriota'', sometimes also called ''Frente Revolucionario Antifascista y Patriótico'') was a radical Spanish anti-Francoist, Marxist–Leninist revolution ...

. AOA had its roots in the ''Oposición Sindical Obrera'' (Workers' Trade Union Opposition). AOA appeared in late 1977. According to a 1977 government statement, AOA was further to the

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than all other trade union groups at the time.

Political positions

AOA advocated an "assemblyist" approach to trade unionism, in which all power over the movement would be in the hands of workers' assemblies and that the mandates of their delegates would be revokable at all times. In negotiations AOA would refuse to concede to compromises, citing that the workers' assemblies would be

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

to decide over any deals with the employers. AOA opposed the

Moncloa Pacts The Moncloa Pacts ( es, Pactos de la Moncloa) were economic and political agreements to address inflation and unemployment during the Spanish transition to democracy in the late 1970s. These were attended by major labour unions such as the UGT ...

and called for a "No" vote in the 1978 constitutional referendum. It condemned the

Workers' Commissions The Workers' Commissions ( es, Comisiones Obreras, CCOO) since the 1970s has become the largest trade union in Spain. It has more than one million members, and is the most successful union in labor elections, competing with the Unión General de ...

and the

Unión General de Trabajadores The Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT, General Union of Workers) is a major Spanish trade union, historically affiliated with the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). History The UGT was founded 12 August 1888 by Pablo Iglesias Posse ...

, which signed the Moncloa Social Pact, as "

yellow union A company or "yellow" union is a worker organization which is dominated or unduly influenced by an employer, and is therefore not an independent trade union. Company unions are contrary to international labour law (see ILO Convention 98, Article ...

s". AOA demanded salary increases higher than the 10,000 peseta limit set by the Moncloa Social Pact as well as 40-hour work week, 30 days vacation per year and full compensated sick leave. AOA condemned the new Workers' Statue proposed by the Union of the Democratic Centre as "

Franco Franco may refer to: Name * Franco (name) * Francisco Franco (1892–1975), Spanish general and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975 * Franco Luambo (1938–1989), Congolese musician, the "Grand Maître" Prefix * Franco, a prefix used when ref ...

ist", and began a campaign against the economic policies of the government in late 1979. In campaigns like this, AOA generally stood alone. AOA found itself isolated in the trade union movement, as its maximalist line alienated the other organizations.Moreno Sáez, Francisco.
SINDICATOS MINORITARIOS
AOA struggled for the rights of blind people to employment and social security.

Activities

AOA held its first

congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), and ...

in January 1978. AOA itself claimed that some 2,500 delegates had taken part in the founding congress. Moreove, a pre-congress conference with 610 delegates was held in October 1977. The second congress of AOA was held May 15–16, 1982. AOA published the journal ''Asamblea Obrera''.Fundación Pablo Iglesias.
Catalogo de publicaciones periodicas
'. Madrid: P. Iglesias, 1984. p. 25

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asociacion Obrera Asambleista Trade unions in Spain Trade unions established in 1977