23 April 1938: Jamaicans demand minimum wage

23 April 1938: Jamaicans demand minimum wage

From On This Day in Working Class History by Working Class History

April 23, 2026 · 1 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the 1938 petition by Jamaicans demanding a minimum wage and the subsequent unrest on the island.

On this day, 23 April 1938, Robert Rumble's Poor Man's Improvement and Land Settlement Association sent a petition to the governor in Jamaica demanding a minimum wage for agricultural workers and peasants, and an end to exploitation by landlords: "We are the Sons of Slaves," they wrote, "who have been paying rent to the Landlords for fully many decades. [...] We want a Minimum Wage Law. We want freedom in this the hundredth year of our Emancipation. We are still economic slaves, burdened in paying rent to Landlords who are sucking out our vitalities." Rent strikes and land occupations began, and tenants seized lands and erected fences around them. Unrest on the island escalated until it was suppressed by British troops in June. More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/9533/rural-jamaicans-demand-minimum-wage Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon . If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory . See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app…

Topics covered

  • minimum wage
  • Jamaica
  • agricultural workers
  • landlords
  • economic exploitation
  • historical unrest

Keywords

  • minimum wage
  • Jamaica
  • Robert Rumble
  • landlords
  • economic slavery
  • rent strikes
  • land occupations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Robert Rumble's Poor Man's Improvement and Land Settlement Association, British troops

Places: Jamaica

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