The first recorded strike in history occurred in ancient Egypt over unpaid wages.
In short: While we associate strikes with the Industrial Revolution, the practice is thousands of years older. In 1152 BCE, artisans in Egypt walked off the job to protest delayed pay. Today, strikes remain a potent tool for collective bargaining, political resistance, and even environmental advocacy, despite long-term declines in their frequency.
The earliest documented strike took place on 14 November 1152 BCE, when artisans at the Royal Necropolis in Deir el-Medina protested against the government of Ramesses III. Their grievances were simple: they had not been paid on time or in full. The royal government ultimately resolved the dispute by increasing the artisans' wages, establishing a precedent for labor action that would persist for millennia. Ancient Rome also saw early precursors, such as the secessio plebis, where plebeians withdrew their labor to protest the enslavement of their peers by patrician creditors.
During the Industrial Revolution, strikes became a fixture of the modern economy as the working class grew in size and consciousness. By 1842, the first modern general strike erupted in Britain, involving over 500,000 workers across coal mines and cotton mills. Friedrich Engels, observing the era, noted that the proletariat was becoming increasingly aware of its collective power. This period also saw the emergence of diverse strike tactics, from the 'black ban' used to protect economic interests to the 'sit-down' strike, which later proved instrumental in the formation of the United Auto Workers in the 1930s.
In the 20th century, strikes evolved into powerful political instruments. The 1980 Gdańsk Shipyard strikes in Poland, led by Lech Wałęsa, were pivotal in the campaign against communist rule and the eventual fall of the Iron Curtain. Conversely, in the United States, the frequency of major strikes has seen a dramatic long-term decline, falling by 97% between 1970 and 2010. While some labor economists suggest this is due to factors like increased personal debt and lower information costs, recent years have shown a resurgence in activity, with major work stoppages in 2018 and 2019 involving an average of 20,000 workers each.
Today, strike action encompasses a wide spectrum of methods, including 'sickouts'—often used by public sector workers like police or teachers who are legally barred from striking—and 'warning strikes' intended to pressure employers during negotiations. While legal protections vary by country, international frameworks like the United Nations' 1967 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights continue to recognize the right to strike as a fundamental aspect of labor relations.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Strike action
- Also: Wikidata — strike · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Strike Action at Ravenscraig · CC0
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