How Madrid Underground came to a halt: An interactionist analysis of the processes prior to a total strike
Abstract
In June 2010, one day after austerity measures had been applied to Madrid Underground, the underground workers went on a total strike. They paralyzed the underground traffic during 48 hours and caused major traffic gridlocks in the city center. The aim of the present research is to understand how this total strike came about. The analysis rests on two types of data: union circular letters produced at the time of the events and semi-directive interviews conducted a posteriori with union representatives and ordinary workers. Together, these data allow one to reconstruct the sequences of interaction between workers, unions, the company management, and the regional government, which preceded the total strike. The findings show that instead of a seemingly natural response to a harsh attack, the total strike should in fact be regarded as a composition effect resulting from nested interactions between multiple and interdependent players.
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