Plovdiv tobacco workers' strike
Plovdiv tobacco workers' strike
The strike happened in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on May 3–4, 1953. Tobacco workers demanded full-year, stable jobs, a five-day workweek, and the return of bonuses from before the 1947 nationalization.
Background: Plovdiv has long been a center of tobacco production. After nationalization in 1947, workers' rights to form independent unions were restricted. A previous strike had occurred in 1947. In April 1953, lists showed who would stay employed and who would be laid off for the next year, prompting the workers to push for year-round employment and the other demands. A strike committee led by Stanyo Valev was formed.
What happened: On May 3, the night shift at the Ivan Karadjov warehouse drove out the guards and barricaded the building. The next morning, the militia surrounded the site. Other warehouses joined the protest, and the crowd grew large. When a government delegation arrived, tensions rose. Insults and stones were thrown; militiamen fired into the air and then shot at the protesters as they began to disperse. Several people were killed, including strike leaders, and many were injured. Dozens were arrested.
Aftermath: The strike was suppressed. Some leaders fled the country and continued resistance activities abroad; others were punished in trials. Official figures estimate 3–9 deaths and at least 50 injuries.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:48 (CET).