Forgotten History: 1922 Guayaquil General Strike & Massacre

Today's Forgotten History: #OTD in 1922 at least 300 striking utility workers were massacred by the Ecuadoran army in the city of Guayaquil. Inspired by railroad workers in the nearby town of Durán, the utility and trolly workers of Guayaquil declared a general strike. Due to competition in the cocoa market, Ecuador was suffering a depression, the strikers made relatively modest demands such as the payment of wages on time, the establishment of medical auxiliary posts, payment in United States dollars or gold rather than the sucre, fifteen days notice before lay-offs and the re-hiring of fired union organizers. The government agreed to exchange rate moratorium and to continue negotiating on demands but the word had not gotten around to the 20,000 strikers and supporters who were advancing on the police station when the army began firing. The general strike ended shortly after the massacre of 15 November. The following day, President Tamayo signaled that he would sign the exchange rate moratorium that had been demanded by the strikers. Most workers returned to their jobs, but the trolley workers continued their strike. On 21 November, the trolley worker strike was finally resolved, with the trolley workers receiving pay raises, shorter hours, and other demands. However, the trolley company would also increase fares