On This Day in Working Class History

22 June 1945: Nigeria general strike


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On this day, 22 June 1945, tens of thousands of workers in Nigeria defied the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and walked out on a general strike in protest at the British colonial administration refusing to meet workers' demands for a minimum wage of 2 shillings and sixpence and a 50% increase in the cost of living allowance. 
The TUC wanted to delay any action, but after months of agitation involving mass meetings of up to 8,000 workers at a time, the workers were not prepared to wait any longer. Railway employees, dockers and civil service workers walked out while many workers at private firms refused to cross picket lines. 
At its peak, between 42,000 and 200,000 workers were out, and despite the deployment of British troops and sabotage by some nationalist groups like the Nigeria Youth Movement the stoppage lasted 45 days. 
The strike was largely successful, as the cost of living increase was awarded in 1946, backdated to the previous year.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9494/Nigeria-general-strike

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