Lugansk Strike Of 1916

a general strike of the workers of Lugansk; one of the largest economic strikes in Russia during World War I (1914-18). It was organized (from April 1916) by a strike committee (headed by T. F. Rudenko, chairman of the trade union of the Gartman Locomotive Works) that included representatives of the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks. On May 26, 3,000 workers at the Gartman plant stopped work. By July 5, 5,000 workers at that plant and about 7,000 workers at the Ammunition Factory were striking. The strikers demanded higher wages, a nine-hour work day, the protection of labor, and improved medical care. On July 9-10, workers of the railroad shops and other enterprises (as many as 15,000 in all) went out on strike, and the Lugansk strike became general. On July 22, it was suppressed; some of the strike leaders were arrested, trade unions were proscribed, and many workers were sent to the army at the front.