Kristiania Match Workers Strike of 1889
Encyclopedia
The Kristiania match workers strike was an industrial dispute
involving female match
workers at the factories Bryn and Grønvold in Kristiania
in 1889. The strike started when the wages were suddenly reduced by 20% in October 1889, and involved 372 of the female workers. It ended 13 December the same year. The strike attracted considerable public sympathy, including from Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
and Oscar Nissen
.
The conflict received country-wide publicity. The strike started spontaneously on 24 October, without any leadership or organizers. The editor of Social-Demokraten
, Carl Jeppesen
, and Oscar Nissen
helped organize a meeting among the workers. The requirements from the workers were 12 hours work-days, a payment of per gross
matches, and lightening of a harsh fine system. The number of strikers were 266 packers from Grønvolds fyrstikkfabrikk and 102 from Bryn. Among the outside supporters were the feminist pioneers Fernanda Nissen
and Ragna Nielsen
. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
appeared as speaker at public mass meetings, along with Jeppesen and Oscar Nissen. The strike went on for weeks, while the workers received financial support from fund-raising campaigns. There was, however, little movement in the negotiations between the workers and the factory owners, and the strike was declared terminated 12 December 1889.
The strike's only achievement was a somewhat lighter fine system, but the conflict eventually had implications for the emerging labour movement. It was later treated in Olav Dalgard
's film Gryr i Norden from 1939.
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
involving female match
Match
A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface...
workers at the factories Bryn and Grønvold in Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1889. The strike started when the wages were suddenly reduced by 20% in October 1889, and involved 372 of the female workers. It ended 13 December the same year. The strike attracted considerable public sympathy, including from Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
and Oscar Nissen
Oscar Nissen
Elias Gottlieb Oscar Egede Nissen was a Norwegian physician, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party from 1889 to his death, and was both party leader, party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten for a period...
.
The conflict received country-wide publicity. The strike started spontaneously on 24 October, without any leadership or organizers. The editor of Social-Demokraten
Dagsavisen
Dagsavisen is a daily newspaper published in Oslo, Norway. The former party organ of the Norwegian Labour Party, the ties loosened over time from 1975 to 1999, and it is now fully independent...
, Carl Jeppesen
Carl Jeppesen
Carl Jeppesen was a Danish-born Norwegian worker, newspaper editor and politician. He edited the newspaper Social-Demokraten from 1887 to 1892, and from 1906 to 1912. He was among the founders of the Norwegian Labour Party, and served as chairman for two periods, from 1890 to 1892, and from 1894...
, and Oscar Nissen
Oscar Nissen
Elias Gottlieb Oscar Egede Nissen was a Norwegian physician, newspaper editor and politician. He belonged to the Norwegian Labour Party from 1889 to his death, and was both party leader, party secretary as well as editor of the party organ Social-Demokraten for a period...
helped organize a meeting among the workers. The requirements from the workers were 12 hours work-days, a payment of per gross
Gross (unit)
A gross is equal to a dozen dozen, i.e. 12 × 12 = 144.It can be used in duodecimal counting. The use of gross likely originated from the fact that 144 can be counted on the fingers using the fingertips and first two joints of each finger when marked by the thumb of one hand. The other hand...
matches, and lightening of a harsh fine system. The number of strikers were 266 packers from Grønvolds fyrstikkfabrikk and 102 from Bryn. Among the outside supporters were the feminist pioneers Fernanda Nissen
Fernanda Nissen
Petra Gregorine Fernanda Nissen was a Norwegian journalist, literary critic, theatre critic, politician and feminist pioneer.-Early and personal life:...
and Ragna Nielsen
Ragna Nielsen
Ragna Vilhelmine Nielsen was a Norwegian pedagogue, school headmistress, publicist, organizer, politician and feminist.-Personal life:...
. Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson was a Norwegian writer and the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Bjørnson is considered as one of The Four Greats Norwegian writers; the others being Henrik Ibsen, Jonas Lie, and Alexander Kielland...
appeared as speaker at public mass meetings, along with Jeppesen and Oscar Nissen. The strike went on for weeks, while the workers received financial support from fund-raising campaigns. There was, however, little movement in the negotiations between the workers and the factory owners, and the strike was declared terminated 12 December 1889.
The strike's only achievement was a somewhat lighter fine system, but the conflict eventually had implications for the emerging labour movement. It was later treated in Olav Dalgard
Olav Dalgard
Olav Dalgard, given name Olaf Hanssen was a Norwegian filmmaker, advocate of Nynorsk, and a literature and art historian....
's film Gryr i Norden from 1939.