The struggle of Dalmatian workers for the betterment of their economic position (1918—1929)

Abstract

The strikes of Dalmatian proleteriat as a way of their economic struggle for their class interest, were determined by the economic and political situation in Yugoslavia in general, and especially in Dalmatia. It was also determined by the oscilatiotns in the organizing development of the sindicates under the influence of KPJ which led most od the workers’ movements. The sindícate movement was politically divided between the dominant communist movement (CRSVJ and Independent sindicates) and the reform party (ORS, GRS, and URSSJ) and this hindered its unitary proleterian front and it also weakened the common class struggle of the workers against the united capital. Led by the communits, the masses of revolutionary-minded workers in Dalmatia became members of the sindicates until mddtwenties and with heavy strikes they pressed the bourgeoisie to meet many of itheir demands. After the contra-revolutionary attack of the bourgeoisie in 1920. the situation changed completely. It is the beggining of a new period where we see relentless struggle of the Independent sindicates, not only against the ruthless capitalist exploatation and the disrespect of the workers’ legislature, but also against the oportunistic reform sindicates which, because of their colaboration with the system, lost the favour of the Dalmatian proleteriat. The analisys of the strike actions in the period between 1921. and 1929. shows that their intensity varied and that the workers’ struggle was becoming more and more defensive. It is also important to strees that the unsuccessful actions were result (apart from the police pressure) of the fractions within the sindícate mo- wement itself. Althrough weak in their organisation, the Indipendent sindicates had more influence on the unorganised workers. They gained their favour and support together with successful struggle for some everday interest of the workers. These economic actions of the workers under the influence of KPJ were an important pant of the general revolutionary struggle of the proleteriat against the bourgeois leadership. The character of the sindicato struggle thus gained eminent political significance and the sindicate played the role of an active political strength for the changes in society.