Organizing heterogeneity: challenges for the Spanish trade unions

Spanish trade unions are going through a process of transformation with uncertain outcomes. The Spanish trade union movement is having to face up to problems and challenges such as globalization, offshoring, and technological and organizational restructuring, while operating in a somewhat different situation to many of its European counterparts. The particular development of the Spanish industrial relations system since Spain’s transition to democracy, the structure of the Spanish economy and the 15-year (1994—2008) boom in start-ups and employment all shape the background to current union strategies. Following a short outline of the current situation the article focuses on the problems of recruiting and integrating new membership groups from a wide range of previously untapped sectors, and new trends in collective bargaining related to these new sectors.