Krenholm strike

In the summer of 1872 an epidemic of cholera broke out in the Estland province . Severe illness killed many people. The trouble has not bypassed Krengholm . By August 10, 1872, more than 30 people died from the disease. Fearing the spread of the disease in the factory , 120 factory workers asked the local gendarmerie to allow them to leave the factory before the end of the contract . The local gendarmerie and the factory administration gave permission and recorded the names of those who had left. August 11, the workplace left 250 people.

The situation at the factory was reported to the Estland Governor, the latter was sent to the place of a medical expert, Dr. Falk. Having visited Krenholm barracks and hospitals, the doctor was not satisfied. In the barracks of the Yolla estate, the living conditions turned out to be poor, the workers and their families lived in close quarters. Dr. Falk saw 12 beds in one room, where the healthy lay with the sick. A terrible mess reigned in the courtyard of the barracks, the latrines were so filled that it was impossible to approach them. People celebrated their need right in the yard. An open garbage dump stood in the middle of the courtyard, it was crowded and the slop spread throughout the yard, spreading an intolerable smell. To maintain the order of yards and houses, the owner of the land did nothing. The medical expert reported on the situation to the Governor of Estland M. V. Shakhovsky ( et: Mihhail Valentinovitš Šahhovskoi-Glebov-Strešnev ). The governor made an order to the local gokenrichter to relocate the workers to other premises, clean out the yards and disinfect the latrines. In addition, some Krenholm weavers expressed displeasure with the internal regulations of the Krengolm factory.

From the report to the head of the provincial gendarmerie we can read that the following demands were made by the Krenholm weavers of the factory’s administration:

• Increase the lunch break instead of 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
• Starting the working day is not from 5 in the morning, but from 5:30.
• Increase payment for a piece of material in 50 arshins to 40 kopecks.
• Penalty for damage to parts of the machine in accordance with its value (so far they took more).
• For bad work and small production is not fined, and dismissed from the factory.
• Eliminate from the factory hospital paramedic Palkin.
• Replace in the post of headman Peter Syakka.
• Do not deduct money from the account book without the employee’s consent (the account book is now similar to a credit card).
• Give factory children more time to attend school.

Factory manager E. F. Kolbe, after reviewing the requirements, found some of them fair and found it possible to satisfy them. On the other requirements related to wages and working hours, the factory manager addressed the factory’s shareholders to Moscow , since it was not his authority to resolve these issues. About 500 workers stopped working before answering their demands (500 out of 7,000 people in total). By August 21, an agreement was reached between 40 representatives of the weavers and the manager E. Kolbe. At the conclusion of the contract were present: the Estland governor Shakhovskaya, the head of the St. Petersburg gendarme department Birin, the manager of the factory E. Kolbe and 40 representatives of weavers. The manager of the Kolbe factory on the basis of a response from Moscow, found it possible to satisfy all the workers' requirements except two, the wages (since this depended on market prices) and the dismissal of medical assistant Palkin (considered this request not serious for that level of negotiations). On August 22, the weavers began work. The cholera epidemic began to recede, as measures were taken to combat unsanitary conditions. Workers who had previously left the factory returned.

At the beginning of September 1872, new unrest took place among the workers. They were caused by rumors, as if the factory’s management was not going to fulfill the terms of the agreement; some of the workers believed that the rebels destroyed their usual way of life. From the workers loyal to the administration, a complaint was received with a request to eliminate from the factory the leaders of the strike, namely Jacob Tamm, William Preismann and some more. A confrontation arose between the workers, they shouted at each other in factory meetings and violated order. Subsequently, it was established that the rumors and complaints were specially fabricated by the factory administration itself.

On September 9, the hackenrichter ordered the arrest of Jacob Tamm and Willem Preismann and put them in a city prison allegedly "going to meet the working people." On September 11, 200 factory workers in a threatening manner demanded the immediate release of their comrades. A riot began, a small group of workers blocked the bridge leading to the factory, thus not allowing the rest to work. The gendarmes by force tried to clear the passage to the factory. They succeeded in this, but several gendarmes and the Gakenrihter himself were injured, they were stoned. In response, the Gakenrichter ordered the most active rioters to be arrested, but an angry mob released their comrades while brutally beating the guards. Since the situation was getting out of control, the gakenrichter turned to the troops for help. The battalion of soldiers under the command of Colonel Reinwald took control of the factory.

On September 12, new riots took place at Krenholm, the workers demanded the release of William Preismann and his comrades. Estland Governor decided to personally arrive at the scene. At the request of the governor from Yamburg troops were sent reinforcements. By September 13, the situation at Krenholm was under the control of the troops.

On September 14, Estland Governor Shakhovskoy arrived at Krengolm. An investigation was launched to determine the causes and perpetrators of the riots.

September 15, work at the factory resumed. 22 people were arrested on suspicion of active participation in the unrest.

September 19 found it possible to withdraw troops from Krenholm.

The investigation concluded that there were no political motives in the riots. The cause of the incident was considered inept management of the factory by the administration. Not finding a solution for a long time in the sore point of the weavers, a situation arose in which the emerging epidemic of cholera overwhelmed the workers' patience and pushed them to strike. Without taking any lesson from the august strike, the factory’s leadership tried to sow hostility among the workers in early September. The result was the largest unrest of the working people of then-Russia. The arrested William Preismann and his comrades were released from custody, but it was decided not to allow them into the factory anymore. Many participants in the September revolt were convicted to hard labor.

• Krenholm Holding LtD (not available link)
• Krenholm - a city in the city
• Krenholm