Lortetski Steelworks Riots

The Lotetski Steelworks Riot were a series of protests turned violent in Palovensk, Grand Duchy of Kolangrad in 320.
During the 310s, high tensions with the Templari'i Republic and Nichibotsu Shogunate lead to Conservative majorities in the Novzaklod. Grand Chancellor Jaroslavl Fyodorovska repealed several labor protections in order to support the colonies and fend off a Templari'i invasion. The Great Scuffle was brief and inconclusive, but the repulsion of Templari'i invaders in Dalovsk won substantial support for the conservatives, however the Nichibotsu invasion in 312 provided the government an exscuse not to reimplement labor protections.
In 320, with the Colonial Wars in a lull and the international community finally at peace, workers became fed up with years of labor abuses and preventable deaths. The Lorteksi Steelworks experienced a string of deaths, with five workers dying in the span of 6 weeks. Incensed, the workers went on strike and demanded the government reinstate labor protections.
The strike didnt gain national attention for two weeks, until the lack of steel became noticeable. Newspapers published the issue extensively, and the Conservative Government labelled the strikers as "Traitors to the Nation". Conservative groups sprung up to counterprotest, leading to fights and escalating violence. The tough on crime Grand Chancellor dispatched the National Guard, who fired into the strikers on August 8th 320.
Massive riots struck the city as a result, and for ten days Palovensk looked like it would return to its old ways. The government prevented this by stationing a massive force in the city for three years.
The final loss of continental West Eudeon in 323 pushed the Conservatives out of power, and empowered a Liberal minority government under Athenasio Deredeios, who failed to implement reforms as a result of his limited legislative control. Conservatives regained power in 324 with Pytor Forvky, who had won votes in Dalovsk and parts of Palovensk on the promise of reimplementing peace time labor protections, which failed. Protests would continue in Palovensk for years to come, but the Lortetskiy Steelwork Riots were the last major example of labor violence in the Grand Duchy pre-Union.
Category:Riots
Category:Kolangrad
Category:Kolanski Riots
Category:Avalon
Category:4th Century