Plantation Leonara Sugar Workers Strike, Guyana, 1939

On 13 February 1939, the Plantation Leonora strike began amongst sugar workers in Guyana when 10 firemen, who stoked wood-burning furnaces on the estate, stopped work for half a day protesting against the 11.5-hour working day and requesting an extra hour's pay per day.

They returned to work the next day after the manager promised to review the issue.

However, the stoppage then spread to other groups of workers, and within two days almost the entire sugarcane field workforce, 30% of whom were women and girls, had walked out.

On February 16, British colonial police opened fire on the strikers killing three or four people, including one woman. Named victims include Robert Carter, Gunpat, and Sumintra.

The violent repression put an end to the strike.

Plantation Leonora dispute begins - WCH | Stories

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