Twente textile strike

Twente Textile Strike 1931-32, textile industry Twente 1930s

In conflict with the textile manufacturers.

Interviewees: J. van Baaren, J. Fahner, H. van Genugten, J.A. Middelhuis, R. Slok, F. Stuvé, J. Vunderink

For more information on the interviews and the interviewees, see: SFW-werkuitgave no. 8 (1995), pp. 2, 20, 21, 33, 39, 42, 50.

The Twente Textile Strike is included in the Canon of the Netherlands

Twentse Textielstaking

After the First World War, working in the textile industry was no picnic. Much had improved since the previous century, but the workers were now well organised and no longer accepted the large profits in the family businesses. They wanted better things for themselves. At a protest march, a worker with a carrier cycle full of broomsticks made this clear: “Big steal and little steal, big steal the most.” In 1923 a major strike broke out at Van Heek & Co. By applying “the Twente System” many other textile workers also became unemployed.

The Twente System

The manufacturers, united since 1888 in the Enschedesche Fabrikanten Vereeniging, usually reacted collectively. A strike at one of the affiliated companies was followed by the shutdown of several factories, with the exclusion of all workers. In 1890 this applied to 5,000 workers, in 1902 to 2,000 and in 1909 to 7,500. The strike at Van Heek & Co in 1902 met with much sympathy in and outside Twente. Henriëtte Roland Holst held fiery speeches throughout the country and together with her husband collected money to supplement the strike payouts. In the end, however, the manufacturers won. In 1909 Pieter Jelles Troelstra, leader of the SDAP, spoke before an audience of 7,000 textile workers. In that case, promises were made by the Menko management.

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