19 June 1937: Trinidad general strike
Published: June 19, 2026
Duration: 1:48
On this day, 19 June 1937, after employers failed to agree to oil workers' pay demands, workers at one of Trinidad's oilfields went on strike.
British colonial authorities attempted to arrest Uriah Butler, a former oil worker-turned preacher, who was helping to lead the dispute. However, he was defended by a crowd of workers, who killed two policemen – soaking one of them with paraffin and burning them. Butler (pictured) then went into hiding.
The strike quickly spread across all oilfields, then to the rest of the economy. A state of emergency was declared and two British warships rushed to the isla...
British colonial authorities attempted to arrest Uriah Butler, a former oil worker-turned preacher, who was helping to lead the dispute. However, he was defended by a crowd of workers, who killed two policemen – soaking one of them with paraffin and burning them. Butler (pictured) then went into hiding.
The strike quickly spread across all oilfields, then to the rest of the economy. A state of emergency was declared and two British warships rushed to the isla...