13 Most Famous Strikes in History That Changed the World

Famous strikes in history stand as proof of what solidarity can achieve when workers speak with one voice.

We know how these moments shaped fair wages, safety, and dignity—values that define our unions and inspire every union-made product we offer.

This article highlights thirteen strikes that changed the course of workers’ rights, providing perspective on the power behind your union’s story, your apparel, and your ongoing commitment to justice.

1. The Deir el-Medina Strike, Ancient Egypt (c. 1157 BCE)

What can a 3,000-year-old strike teach your union? A lot. This ancient protest wasn’t about heavy machinery or modern contracts. It was about people demanding their fair share—and winning.

Key Facts for Today’s Union Leader

• Workers refused to keep building royal tombs until they received overdue rations. Their sit-ins targeted what hurt management most: workflow.
• Egyptians organized formal petitions and staged multiple public demonstrations. They wrote down specific grievances to keep their case clear.
• Results were real. Leadership met demands by restoring food rations and improving working conditions.
• Amennakhte, the scribe, documented everything. Their written appeals became the playbook for future worker activism.
• This nonviolent, organized protest set the template for collective bargaining. Unions exist today because workers didn’t back down then.

Make written documentation and public unity your go-to tools—these set standards.

Deir el-Medina bridges the gap from ancient to modern struggles. When you feel isolated, see yourself as part of labor’s origin story.

2. The Secession of the Plebs, Roman Republic (494–287 BCE)

Powerful strikes don’t just improve jobs. Sometimes they redefine what rights even mean. The Roman plebeians pushed back against oppression, shutting Rome down not once—but multiple times.

Class Walkouts That Reshaped History

• Rome’s plebeians staged mass walkouts when debts and grain shortages hit. Their “Secessions” ground trade and lawmaking to a halt.
• Each strike forced real change. They gained the Tribune of the Plebs—an early form of true worker representation in government.
• Their public unity led to critical reforms like the Law of the Twelve Tables and binding plebiscites.
• Leaders adapted tactics. When rights weren’t met, people left the city, paralyzing Rome’s entire system.
• These strikes forged the method: demand, disrupt, and legislate real gains for working people.

If your union wants to drive policy, collective action paired with targeted walkouts gets results.

Secession of the Plebs proves that even without formal power, collective refusal can rewrite the rules.

3. The 1835 Philadelphia General Strike, United States

Not all struggles are ancient history. Philadelphia’s general strike jumpstarted the labor movement in North America. Today’s unions carry on this legacy every time they stand shoulder to shoulder.

The Building Blocks of Modern Union Power

• Over 20,000 workers across 40 trades demanded a ten-hour workday and fairer wages. It was the first citywide strike in America.
• Parades, newspaper campaigns, and huge rallies kept public opinion front and center.
• They won a ten-hour day for many—and set momentum rolling across Boston and New York.
• Different trades, including Black workers in some sectors, united behind shared standards.
• This strike’s strategy—mass action, broad inclusion—became the foundation for today’s union victories.

When organizing, reach across job categories and backgrounds. Power multiplies in solidarity.

Philadelphia’s example is a rallying cry for every union pushing for better hours and pay.

4. The 1842 General Strike (Plug Plot Riots), England

Wage cuts and dangerous conditions create real urgency. In 1842, nearly half a million workers acted together. Their campaign changed how all of Britain saw industrial labor.

Lessons from the Plug Plot Riots

• Workers pulled the plugs from steam engines in factories and mines, shutting down production everywhere.
• Coal miners, textile workers, and millhands joined with Chartists—a political movement fighting for more rights.
• Police crackdowns were fierce, but the pressure raised public support for factory reforms.
• Not everything succeeded overnight. Still, these demonstrations started key debates that led to better hours, safety rules, and a voting system with more fairness.
• The riots received vast press coverage, moving public sympathy toward labor’s side.

Plug Plot Riots show that dramatic action makes invisible problems visible, even if wins are years away.

5. The Matchgirls’ Strike, London (1888)

Real change often begins at the bottom. The Matchgirls, most just teens, risked everything to stand up to deadly working conditions. Their courage still powers union organizing today.

What Unskilled Workers Can Achieve

• Women and girls at Bryant & May refused to handle toxic white phosphorus. “Phossy jaw” was destroying lives.
• Marches gained the attention of newspapers, celebrities, and even Parliament.
• They won better pay, safer conditions, and the founding of Britain’s largest women’s union.
• Public outrage over their struggle fueled new labor laws and inspired organizing among low-wage workers everywhere.
• Their method—nonviolent action, detailed publicity, and focus on health—still gets results for vulnerable groups.

Standing up for safety and fairness is never wasted effort.

Matchgirls’ legacy is clear: even the most overlooked workers can shift the status quo.

6. The London Dock Strike (1889)

The London Dock Strike marked the real start of mass unionism in Britain. Dockers demanded the “docker’s tanner”—a sixpence an hour—and won far more.

Changing the Game for Casual Labor

• 100,000 dockworkers shut down the world’s busiest port to demand decent pay and job security.
• Local charities backed families while the strike lasted, demonstration of community-wide support for union aims.
• The strike’s energy inspired a surge in union membership, especially among workers with few formal skills.
• Many strike leaders later became key political and labor figures, solidifying labor’s political influence.
• Broader victories followed, including new laws for fair pay and job protections.

London’s dockers proved that public backing, clear demands, and union expansion go hand-in-hand.

7. The Great Southwest Railroad Strike (1886), United States

Big wins don’t always happen all at once. The Great Southwest Railroad Strike failed, yes—but it reset labor strategy, building stronger unions in its wake.

How Setbacks Build Future Success

• More than 200,000 railroad workers from Arkansas to Texas opposed unsafe conditions and anti-union firings.
• Clashes with private security forces showed just how far employers would go to avoid bargaining.
• The strike’s defeat exposed weak spots in union structure and legal protections at the time.
• Public debate shifted after widespread press coverage of violence, raising awareness about the need for labor rights.
• In the aftermath, unions retooled, leading to the rise of the American Federation of Labor and smarter organizing.

Learn from every loss. Refine, regroup, and push forward.

This railroad strike set a new course, showing unions how to build for long-term wins through collective experience and adaptation.

8. The Homestead Strike (1892), United States

Unions often meet aggressive opposition. The Homestead Strike showed the world just how far companies will go to break worker power—and what courage under fire looks like.

Standing Firm Against Union Busting

• The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers refused wage cuts at Carnegie Steel. The company hired armed Pinkerton agents to force the plant open.
• The standoff turned violent, with a pitched battle that stunned the nation. The Pennsylvania National Guard helped management take back the mill.
• After the strike ended, union strength in steel collapsed—proof that bosses taking extreme steps can tilt the balance.
• Still, the Homestead story became a rallying point, highlighting both the pain of defeat and the value of unity.

Real solidarity means standing strong when it matters most, even in the face of force.

Homestead remains a touchstone for modern unions. It reminds us that every right we defend was fought for by workers before us.

9. The Pullman Strike (1894), United States

One strike can bring a country to a standstill. The Pullman Strike proved that when unions act together, industries—and even governments—take notice.

National Solidarity in Action

• Pullman factory workers walked out after wage cuts but no drop in rent or costs in the company town. Their protest swelled as the American Railway Union called a nationwide boycott of Pullman railcars.
• Rail traffic shut down across 27 states. The government sent in troops and used federal injunctions to enforce “order.”
• The strike’s defeat was bitter. But it led directly to Labor Day becoming a federal holiday, marking worker contributions for good.
• Eugene Debs, the union leader, became a national symbol of labor rights after serving time for his role.

Big stakes mean big lessons for today’s union leaders: cross-industry coordination can shake the system.

10. The 1912 Brisbane General Strike, Australia

Some battles are over respect. The Brisbane strike began with badges—but sparked a movement for recognition and real workplace rights.

Union Pride and Public Support

• Tramway men were fired for wearing union badges, igniting massive support from 25,000 workers. Soon, marches filled city streets.
• The public stood with strikers. Fundraisers and rallies backed families left without pay.
• Concessions followed, laying the foundation for modern labor rights and giving Australia’s labor movement real political clout.
• Visible union pride—badges, apparel, banners—became a lasting symbol of unity and justice.

Show your union colors. Pride and unity are non-negotiable.

Our own selection of union-made jackets, vests, and badges keeps that spirit alive for today’s leaders and organizers. Outfit your movement to be seen and heard—because identity matters.

11. The 1926 United Kingdom General Strike

Mass action can grind a nation to a halt. The UK’s 1926 general strike drew in nearly two million workers backing coal miners against wage cuts.

Countrywide Collective Action

• Nine days, industry after industry stood still—railways, newspapers, power. Volunteers tried to fill gaps, but the shutdown was overwhelming.
• The government fought back with new anti-union laws, but workers across trades never forgot the effort and sacrifice.
• Coordination was key: unions organized food, distributed messages, and built cross-sector alliances.

When unions unite, the whole infrastructure feels the shift.

General strikes set new standards for solidarity. The lessons resonate far beyond Britain’s borders.

12. The Flint Sit-Down Strike (1936–1937), United States

Occupying a workplace instead of picketing outside? The UAW’s Flint Sit-Down Strike changed everything for American labor and auto workers nationwide.

New Tactics, New Victories

• GM workers refused to leave the plant, halting production until their demands got attention.
• After 44 tense days, they forced GM to the table. The first national UAW contract launched a wave of new organizing.
• Sit-downs quickly became a strategy that spread to hundreds of factories.
• Flint’s win brought stability, higher wages, and middle-class prosperity to thousands.

Adapting tactics is a union superpower. When classic methods fall short, invent something that works.

13. May 1968 General Strike, France

Radical action can shake whole societies. In 1968, students and workers pushed France to its limits—proving organized labor is a force no government can ignore.

When Everyone Walks Out

• Up to 10 million people joined the strike. Demands ranged from wage hikes to broader democracy.
• Factories, schools, and offices closed. The economy hit a wall, and President de Gaulle briefly left the country.
• Gains were real: higher wages, workplace reforms, and lasting cultural change.
• The “spirit of ’68” remains a rallying point for social justice and worker movements on every continent.

Energy from below can topple barriers from above. Don’t underestimate your leverage.

The Enduring Power of Famous Strikes in History

Every union win is built on earlier struggles. Each strike on this list sharpened our tools and boosted our pride.

• Strikes build better contracts, sharper organizing, and stronger communities.
• Unions with bold branding—apparel, supplies, clear messaging—carry those victories forward for future members.
• When you honor strike history, you hold the line for living wages, safety, and dignity. You celebrate your union’s spirit with every jacket, badge, or banner you wear.

Celebrate the DNA of your movement. Build visibility. Remind every member: our solidarity creates tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Keep organizing. Educate your team on where these hard-won rights came from. Carry this legacy forward in words, in action, and in every union-made product you choose.