Confronting British Capital: An Evaluation of the Opposition of the Ottoman Greek Employees to the Administration of the Aidin Railway Company during the Strikes of September 1908

Abstract

ABSTRACT:In the summer of 1908, following the recent outburst of the Young Turk Revolution, a wave of strikes swept the companies situated in the Ottoman Empire, including the Aidin Railway Company. The railway, although financed by British financial interests, encompassed a vast Greek labor force as technical support staff. Following the formation of the union, the workers requested a wage raise, as well as better working conditions. The management's denial to concede to the workers' demands resulted in the declaration of three alternate strikes. During the last one, the employees asked for the dismissal of the company's general manager Herbert Barfield on account of his derogatory attitude towards the indigenous personnel. However, the reason behind the strikes resided in the particular position of Asia Minor Greeks in the Ottoman Empire during the period preceding World War I and, more specifically, in their dual identity as both Christians and Ottomans.