On this day, 20 February 1834 the first Lowell “mill girls” strike occurred in New England when 800 women textile workers walked out against a 15% pay cut. They also immediately withdrew all of their savings, causing a run on two local banks.
While the stoppage was unsuccessful in preventing the pay cut, it was a powerful message that women workers in the area would no longer be meek and pliable.
The very first factory strike in US history also occurred in New England a few years beforehand organised by women workers. Learn more about it in our podcast: https://workingclasshistory.com/2019/08/12/e28-the-pawtucket-mill-strike/ https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1354914578027022/?type=3