Juan Muñiz Zapico Foundation

The Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico is a cultural foundation established in 1990 on the initiative of the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras de Asturias. It is named after Juan Muñiz Zapico, known as 'Juanín', a leader of Comisiones Obreras who died in a traffic accident in 1977. Its principal purpose is to preserve the memory of the workers' movement and to disseminate the culture of trade unionism. The foundation operates as a centre of documentation, research and public debate rather than as a commercial enterprise. Its website organises its work around several areas: activities, publications, an Area of Studies, educational activities, an archive and library, and thematic sections on mining literature, the Transition in Asturias, and the strikes of 1962. It also maintains a transparency portal and a press review that collects media coverage of its events. Among its recurring activities, the foundation has taken part in the Semana Negra festival in Gijón, hosting book presentations and debates. In 2020, for example, it programmed a presentation of 'Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. Cambiar la vida, cambiar la historia' and of '¿Un futuro sin sindicatos?' by Unai Sordo, general secretary of CC OO. The foundation also organises conferences and seminars on economic and social themes, such as a 2021 conference in Mieres on the change of productive model in Asturias, and commemorative events honouring union figures such as Manuel Nevado Madrid. Through its publications, archive and educational programme, the Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico acts as a memory institution for the Asturian labour movement, linking historical research with contemporary union and social debate.

The Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico was created in 1990 on the initiative of Comisiones Obreras de Asturias, the Asturian branch of the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras. It was named in honour of Juan Muñiz Zapico, known as 'Juanín', a leader of Comisiones Obreras who died in a traffic accident in 1977. From its foundation, its stated principal aim has been to preserve the memory of the workers' movement and to spread the culture of trade unionism. Over the following decades the foundation developed into a centre for documentation, research and public debate. Its website presents a structured programme of activities, publications, an Area of Studies, educational activities, and an archive and library. It also maintains thematic sections devoted to mining literature, the Transition in Asturias, and the strikes of 1962, reflecting the central place of Asturian mining and labour history in its mission. The foundation has been a regular participant in the Semana Negra festival in Gijón, using the event as a platform for book presentations and debates on labour and social issues. In 2020 it hosted presentations of 'Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. Cambiar la vida, cambiar la historia' and of '¿Un futuro sin sindicatos?' by Unai Sordo, general secretary of CC OO. In 2021 it organised a conference in Mieres on the change of productive model in Asturias, bringing together discussion of mining funds, industrial heritage and regional economic transition. It has also organised commemorative events, such as the tribute to Manuel Nevado Madrid on the thirtieth anniversary of his death in 2020. Through these activities the Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico has become a reference point for the memory of the Asturian labour movement, combining historical preservation with contemporary union and social debate.

• 2021

  Conference in Mieres on the change of productive model in Asturias.

• 2020

  Participation in the Semana Negra in Gijón with book presentations and debates, including Unai Sordo's '¿Un futuro sin sindicatos?'.

• 2020

  Tribute to Manuel Nevado Madrid on the 30th anniversary of his death.

• 1990

  Foundation created on the initiative of Comisiones Obreras de Asturias.

A non-profit cultural and memory institution linked to the Asturian labour movement, focused on documentation, research and public debate rather than commercial products.

• Publications

  Books and materials on labour history and union culture.

• Área de Estudios

  Research area dedicated to the workers' movement and related themes.

• Archivo y biblioteca

  Archive and library service for documentation and research.

• Actividades educativas

  Educational activities aimed at disseminating union culture.

1. 1Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico - Portadafundacionjuanmunizzapico.org
2. 2Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapico - Actividadesfundacionjuanmunizzapico.org
3. 3Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapicoes.wikipedia.org
4. 4Fundación Juan Muñiz Zapicowikidata.org