Khludov Strikes

A strike at the Khludov cotton mill in lartsevo, Smolensk Province, took place Sept. 9, 1880. It was provoked by a ten-percent wage reduction, fines, and deductions from wages. The strike began spontaneously and was accompanied by destruction of equipment, the “grub shop,” and other property. The disturbances forced the factory administration to restore the previous salary rates and reduce fines and deductions. When the workers voiced new demands, 500 soldiers were dispatched to the factory. Two thousand workers were dismissed, and the “instigators” of the strike were arrested and sent away.

A strike by 3,000 workers at the Khludov cotton mill in Egor’evsk, Riazan’ Province (now in Moscow Oblast), took place from May 25 to June 7, 1893. The strike was provoked by fines, deductions, the introduction of night work, and the despotism of the administration, particularly of the factory’s director, an Englishman named Rigg. The strikers demolished the offices, warehouses, store, and spinning shop. Socially conscious workers, including A. F. Belov and S. A. Kostylevskii, attempted to lend organization to the protest. The strike was crushed by an infantry regiment. Twenty-eight strikers were arrested, but some of the demands were met. Night work on holidays was eliminated, and certain managerial personnel were dismissed. A second strike at the factory took place from Oct. 2 to 11, 1893.