On this day in 1919, in Catalonia, Spain a general strike broke out when thousands of workers across multiple industries went out on strike, causing widespread power outages and the government to declare a state of war. The strike was initiated after an energy company, La Canadenca, reduced wages and fired over one hundred striking workers who were protesting the pay cuts. This and the curbing of labor rights prompted the rest of the workers at La Canadenca to go on strike and demand the readmission of those sacked and wage increases.

The strike soon spread to other companies in the sector via the CNT's union for water, gas and electricity workers. The lack of electricity in the city affected transport, hampering the provision of supplies and paralyzing 70% of factories in the province of Barcelona.

A state of war was declared by the government and over 3,000 workers were detained. Despite this, the strike ended after two days on the conditions of no repercussions for participating workers, a wage increase, and an 8 hour work day.

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      • Neeerk [he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Most people somehow trick themselves into believing that the individual scientists who make the vaccine is getting all the profit. Even though these vaccines are literally named after the companies making all the profit.

          • bark [none/use name]
            ·
            4 years ago

            India tried to strike a middle ground on this. Patents invalidated/generics permitted if companies wouldn't agree to reasonable prices. The US still slapped them around for it.

        • bark [none/use name]
          ·
          4 years ago

          The guy who invented insulin gave away the patent because he knew it wasn't justifiable to have a patent on something like that.

          Insulin now costs a fortune.

        • Wojackhorseman2 [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          Literally how? Unless labs have some really different practices the general rule is when you’re an employee working for a company, anything you produce is automatically owned bu the company.

          I had a teacher who got sued by the school over this, bc he wrote a book at school while not doing anything in class