
On this day, 3 May 1938, British colonial police massacred construction workers striking for a pay increase at the Frome sugar factory in Jamaica. Three were killed by gunshot, one by bayonet and at least 25 were injured. They also arrested 109 workers and charged them with “riotous assembly”, sentencing many to up to one year’s imprisonment. But the repression sparked widespread demonstrations and strikes by other workers across the island.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10227/Frome-Estate-strike-massacre
We are currently working on a podcast episode about worker rebellion in the Caribbean in the 1930s. Subscribe to our podcast today on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts to make sure you don’t miss it.
Pictured: the factory https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=619704806869405&set=a.602588028581083&type=3





