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Today in Labour History

1831 UK Dozens of workers are convicted of machine-breaking during the agricultural workers' rebellion commonly known as the Swing Riots[more]

1912 United States of America The 'Bread and Roses' strike began in Lynn Massachusetts. The strike was begun and led by mainly immigrant women.[more]

1928 Russia Stalin banishes Leon Trotsky to Alma-Ata. Next year, he will be deported from the USSR altogether.[more]

1934 Martinique The corpse of André Aliker, a worker activist responsible for the Communist newspaper, is discovered on the beach at Fonds Bourlet on a sheet of metal, his forearms tied up and held in place.

1937 United States of America Police beat and arrest UAW members during the great sit-down strike in Flint, Michigan[more]

1938 Burma Led by the legendary Thakin Po Hla Gyi, workers begin escalating strikes at Burmah Oil that culminated in a general strike in 1939. The workers demands included an 8-hour working day, paid overtime, medical leave and decent living quarters. [more]

1944 Morocco Trade unionists participate in the filing of the Independence Manifesto, the start of the participation of Moroccan workers in the national movement and in the defence of their interests.

1946 Haiti Haitian dictator Elie Lescot resigns after three days of spreading strike action against his government[more]

1951 Australia 270 women members of electrical and metal trades unions walked off the job at 3 Sydney factories demanding that they continue to receive 90% of men’s wages, as they had during and since wartime, rather than the 75% imposed by employers.

1973 South Africa Strike at tea packaging factory, TW Becket & Co. Despite police intervention and threats of dismissal, 100 out of 150 Black employees continue to strike. On January 25, they obtained the requested raise and reinstatement.

1985 Afghanistan A cheque for £10,000 was handed over to the National Union of Mineworkers from the Central Council of Afghanistan Trade Unions. CCATU praised the heroism of British miners in a letter accompanying the cheque.

1997 Korea (South) During the great strike that will last until January 30, an ICFTU delegation participates in a rally in Chong-Myo Park in Seoul. Marcello Malentacchi (FIOM-Italy) declares: "Your struggle is ours".

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