On This Day in Working Class History

On this day, 10 March 1920, the El Bordo mine fire occurred in Pachuca, Mexico, which killed dozens of miners. The fire broke out at 6 AM, and there was a brief evacuation period before the mine shafts were sealed shut. 
Officials of the United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Company claimed that after the evacuation fewer than 10 workers remained inside, all of whom were declared to be dead by company doctors. 
When the mine was finally reopened six days later, it was clear that the company had been lying. Inside were the charred bodies of 87 miners: many of whom had reached the exit of the mine, but were burned to death as they were unable to leave. Miraculously, seven miners had even managed to survive despite being trapped underground. 
As in almost all historical examples of corporations killing their workers, no bosses were prosecuted or punished.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8217/el-bordo-fire

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

On this day, 9 March 2020, tens of thousands of women across Mexico went on strike in protest at gender-based violence which kills thousands of women each year in the country.
Transport, banking, education and retail were amongst the industries affected by women either staying at home or taking to the streets, under the slogan "Un Día Sin Nosotras" ("A Day without Us").
One worker, Isaura Miranda, a biologist, told the New York Times why she took part: “I just realised I had to do something… I can’t carry on with this feeling of rage and impotence over so many deaths that are cruel, without dignity… Also, I don’t want my daughter to go out one day and never come back again."
Support for the action was so widespread that many large corporations and government departments were pressured into agreeing not to discipline women who took part in the action.
Mexico's left-wing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, blamed "past neoliberal policies" for endemic violence against women, 10 of whom are murdered each day, and accused right-wing opponents of helping organise the strike.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10925/mexico-women's-strike

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

On this day, 8 March 1922, seamen in Hong Kong and Canton (now Guangzhou) won pay rises of 15-30%, ending their strike which began in January. The British colonial government had declared the strike illegal, brought in the army and tried to use scabs from the Chinese mainland, and forced labour to break the strike. But the strike spread, was joined by rail workers, dockers, cooks and servants, and workers set up an armed militia to blockade food to the island by rail or sea. Eventually bosses were forced to cave in. They did not agree to a union shop, but they gave substantial pay rises, legalised the Seaman's Union, freed imprisoned strike leaders and back paid half pay to workers for the strike days. 
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10828/hong-kong-seamen's-strike-ends

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

On this day, 7 March 1962, bagel bakers in New York City and Nassau county won a month-long strike for better conditions. Members of the bagel bakers union Local 338 voted to accept a deal granting their demand for an additional week's paid vacation, three more paid holidays and better wages.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10729/bagel-bakers-win-strike

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History

On this day, 6 March 1974, UK coal miners called off their four-week strike after accepting a 35% pay offer in a massive victory, which had already brought down the Conservative government.
The Conservatives had introduced regulation to limit pay increases to 7%, at a time when inflation was between 9 and 10%, and miners' basic pay was unable to cover the cost of living without adding considerable overtime hours. 
In November miners launched an overtime ban, after which the government implemented a three day week, restricting the functioning of industry and introducing rolling power cuts, in order to conserve coal to be able to withstand a potential strike. The government offered a pay increase of 16.5%, but this was rejected by the miners. 
When the National Union of Mineworkers launched a ballot for strike action, the Conservatives called a general election under the slogan "Who governs the country?" Meaning was that the government, or the unions. 
After the strike began, the Conservatives then lost the election, and the pay board recommended a 29% pay increase. The new Labour government agreed to implement a deal equating to a 35% increase, and the strike ended. The Trades Union Congress promised the government that it would not support strikes by other workers to achieve similar pay increases, and that union leaders would use their influence to reduce workers' pay demands.
Learn more about the dispute in our podcast episode 81: https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e81-miners-strikes-1972-4/

Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today
Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date
Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com
Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com
If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History