Cigar makers' strike of 1877

Cigar makers' strike of 1877
Interior of a cigar factory before the strike from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
Date	October 1877 – February 1878
Location	New York City

The cigar makers' strike of New York lasted from mid-October 1877 until mid-February 1878. Ten thousand workers walked out at the height of the strike, demanding better wages, shorter hours and better working conditions, especially in the tenement manufacturing locations. The strike was supported by the Cigar Makers International Union (CMIU) of America, local chapter 144.^[1]

Cigar-making evolved from skilled, hand-rolled craftsmanship to mechanized production due to technological and economic factors. Initially concentrated in Cuba, South America and the United States, the industry thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, with workers facing harsh tenement conditions. The 1863 introduction of cigar molds allowed relatively unskilled laborers to work at cigar factories. Labor unions like the CMIU emerged, supporting strikes for better wages and hours, including the 1877 strike. Despite some gains, strikes and rising costs led companies to adopt mechanization. By the late 19th century, cigar-making machines similar to James Albert Bonsack's cigarette roller began to replace workers, diminishing union power. By 1931, most hand-rolled cigar production ceased, and the CMIU dissolved in 1974.