6 April 1903

Strike Stifled at Its Birth

Following the successful railway strike of January 1903, the Dutch trade union movement announced a general strike starting on April 6. The strike was directed against three proposed laws that forbid civil servants from striking. That same day, soldiers took up positions in the streets to prevent disorder. Disagreement within the labour movement prevented the strike from taking off. Within five days the anti-strike legislation became law.

See also:

•  Railway Strike educational game (in Dutch)
•  Search IISH collections and databases for 'Spoowegstaking 1903'

Today in the Biographies Dutch Labour Movement