Riotinto mining strike of 1920

[2] As in other areas, the RTC workers in the Riotinto basin had been demanding wage increases and a reduction in the cost of living since 1918,[5] to alleviate the crisis that the country was experiencing as a result of the effects of World War I.

This was reflected in the attitude of the company's general manager, Walter Browning, who was the target of strong attacks from the left-wing press and the trade union sectors.

[2] Historian José J. de Paz Sánchez has pointed to the possibility that Browning conspired with the company to incite the strike since the RTC was looking for a reduction in personnel in order to reduce costs.

By August, the situation of the workers and their families worsened greatly, and they had to improvise canteens and food distributions to alleviate the hunger that was already affecting the strikers.

Collections were made and public subscriptions were opened in other parts of Spain to send economic funds to alleviate the situation of the miners.

For its part, the Town Council of Riotinto mines was forced to distribute 1,000 rations of food daily to try to alleviate the situation in the municipality.