The railroad strike of 1908 began with the railway employees of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, in response to the deplorable working conditions they had. In 1908 the railroad in Mexico was the most important transport that allowed the production and growth of the country to advance.
Until then, railroad employees were highly regarded for their hard work and dedication, until San Luis Potosí leaders began to marginalize and treat unionized workers unequally.
After several protests to Mr. Clark, CEO of the railway company, the workers were reassured by his promise to offer a solution.
After two months without news, the employees of the railway company decided to start a strike that would paralyze production and travel, as well as industrial development.
The 1908 railroad strike in Mexico occurred during the spring of that same year. This strike was joined by more than 3,000 workers from the company.
Its main components were garroteros and mechanics from the railway workshops, which charged a pittance.
Train stoppage
The stoppage of the Mexican National Railroad, with almost 1,500 km of tracks, lasted six days.
Initially, the union appeared to have succeeded in restoring workers' wages and equality.
However, in view of the fact that Mr. Clark was defeated in relation to the economic issue, he requested the police cooperation of the then president of Mexico, Porfirio Díaz.
Threats by Porfirio Díaz to the operators
The governor of Mexico contacted the leader of the striking league, informing him of possible arrests and imprisonment if they did not return to their posts immediately.
The strike was seen as a conspiracy against the government. In fact, Porfirio Díaz threatened to repeat the annihilation of workers that occurred with Río Blanco, an event that occurred the previous year that was triggered by similar issues.
Félix Vera, leader of the league, immediately traveled to Mexico in order to calm the situation after having a conversation with the vice president at that time, Mr. Corral.
His effort was of little use to him, and the strike was lifted after a board of directors preceded by the union.
The demoralized railroaders returned to their workplace. The strikers were reinstated in their positions as dictated by the agreement; however, they would later be gradually fired.
Workers who were lucky enough to keep their jobs had to live resigned. His greatest hope was to have a fairer system of government in the future.
The leader of the railroad strike was not given the option to resign. Felix Vera had to carry out his duties under the oppression of his government.
Importance of the strike
The previous strikes were very recent. That alerted the government, which felt tremendously threatened.
Furthermore, the government was not willing to repeat the processes of previous years. Throughout the Porfiriato the workers did not have many options.
However, this strike was the one that unleashed future revolutions that sought to achieve improvements in the country's democracy.
References
- David García Colín Carrillo. (2016). The Workers Before the Revolution: Railroad, Miners, Textile Workers; Cananea And Rio Blanco. 2017, from The Socialist Left CMI Website: Strikes and revolutions of the railroad workers
- James D. Cockcroft. (1999). Strikes and revolts of the PLM 1908. In Precursos intellectuals of the Mexican revolution: 1900-1913 (133 of 290). Mexico: XXI century editores.
- John Kenneth Turner. (2012). Four Mexican strikes. 2017, from México Bárbaro Website: Four Mexican Strikes
- Pedro Salmerón. (2017). The Rio Blanco Massacre, 1907. 2017, from La Cabeza de Villa Website: The Rio Blanco Massacre, 1907
- Susana Salazar. (2013). THE FERROCARRILERA STRIKE OF 1908. 2017, from you tube Website: Mexico's railroad strike in 1908