Asturian-American Migration Forum

Are other trade unions in Spain active politically? I realize that a trade union isn't a political party. In the US, however, many trade unions try to influence the elections and the decisions of the legislatures.

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¿Son activos en la política los otros sindicatos en España? Entiendo que un sindicato no es un partido político. En los E.E.U.U., sin embargo, muchos sindicatos intentan influenciar las elecciones y las decisiones del gobierno.

Yes, there are many other trade unions with defined political preferences. The biggest union in Spain is CCOO (Comisiones Obreras), with more than 1000000 members, that's traditionally related to the Spanish Communist Party PCE. It was created illegally during the Franco's regime in Asturies, in La Camocha (Xixón). Nowdays, CCOO has an important moderate wing related to the socialdemocratic party PSOE. This wing is becoming the majoritary one.
The second trade union, with a similar number of members, is UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores). This is considered traditionally the socialist trade union. It was created by the same leader who founded PSOE, Pablo Iglesias and nowdays continues supporting this party.
The third position is shared by CGT (the anarchist trade union that has been mentioned in other posts) and USO. USO (Unión Sindical Obrera) was created by Christian left-wing groups in the 50's.
The following one is the pure-anarchist CNT, that was mentioned before.
After this, we have other minoritary trade unions with different ideologies: Anarchists SO (Solidaridad Obrera), Communist- Maoist SU (Sindicato Unitario).
There are many trade unions with a nationalist left-wing ideology in Galicia, Catalonia and Basque Country, and many other concrete places.
In Asturias exists CSI (Corriente Sindical de Izquierdas), that's sometimes related to the asturian left-wing nacionalism, but it's basicly a communist trade union.

By the way, this week, on Payares 22 (November) there has been a big demostration (more than 5.000 people) in Xíxón supporting two historical trade unionists of the CSI (Corriente Sindical d´Izquierda, Left Trade Faction?) Cándido González Carnero and Juan Manuel Martínez Morala, who were charged because of the 2005 Xixón naval factories mobilizations. They are denouncing that the Xixón City Council wants to remove the shipyards (they still remain two: Izar Xixón and Naval Xixón) from the west coast of the city and build in their places more hotels and luxurious flats.
For those interested in Asturian politics and Asturies social reality there is a very useful web: www.glayiu.org. Glayíu means Scream! in Asturianu. It is the common place for all the Asturian Left-wing movement (from Asturian nationalists to anarchists), and shows the point of view of the politically aware Asturian youth.
Social awareness is as Asturian as cider and fabada. Hemingway in his For who the bells toddle mentioned that Asturians had always been very politically advanced. I suppose you have read it.