January 4, 1900. The recent wave of strikes in the coal fields of Belgium and Germany has shaken both countries violently. Many factories have been forced to suspend production due to lack of fuel.

Just this month, worker resistance spread to other industries in Europe. In Vienna, steel workers went on strike; in Brussels, glass workers went on strike; and in western Bohemia, 5000 workers from all walks of life went on strike. According to reports, these strikes were spontaneous rather than the result of organized activities. But most people's demands are similar: an eight-hour workday, a substantial increase in wages (in some cases 20%) and improved working conditions. Despite the chaos, managers of various companies sat on fishing boats and did not seem to make any concessions to the dissatisfied employees.