Innovation No. 70 of 77 in the book
The Labor Strike
Workers stopped work to demand fair treatment
- When
- c. 1159 BCE
- Dynasty
- 20th Dynasty
- Era
- New Kingdom
The first recorded strike in history happened in Egypt in 1159 BCE, when the workers building the royal tombs downed tools over late pay.
The craftsmen of Deir el-Medina were owed their rations of grain — their wages — and the deliveries hadn’t come. So they stopped work, sat down at the temples, and refused to move until they were paid.
A scribe logged it day by day. The workers organized, made demands, and won their back-pay. It is collective bargaining, 3,000 years early.
The labor strike was invented by Egyptian workers who’d had enough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the labor strike in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 1159 BCE during Egypt's New Kingdom (20th Dynasty). The first recorded strike in history happened in Egypt in 1159 BCE, when the workers building the royal tombs downed tools over late pay.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the labor strike, and what is its legacy?
The craftsmen of Deir el-Medina were owed their rations of grain — their wages — and the deliveries hadn’t come. So they stopped work, sat down at the temples, and refused to move until they were paid. The craftsmen of Deir el-Medina were owed their rations of grain — their wages — and the deliveries hadn’t come. So they stopped work, sat down at the temples, and refused to move until they were paid. The labor strike was invented by Egyptian workers who’d had enough.