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Summary

In 1947-1948, over 17,000 railway workers and 2,000 wharf workers in French West Africa struck for better benefits and working conditions. Led by Ibrahima Sarr, the strike gained widespread community support and lasted over five months. The strike ended with a compromise that largely favored the union, achieving five out of six demands.

Background

In 1946, a general strike in Dakar secured wage increases and union recognition, but railway workers were excluded. In 1947, the railways were transferred to a para-statal group, stripping workers of civil servant benefits. African workers were mostly placed in lower tiers with fewer benefits, no housing, and no indemnities. The union demanded better conditions including housing, promotion criteria, and indemnity zone benefits.

What happened

The strike began on October 10, 1947, with over 17,000 railway workers and 2,000 wharf workers refusing to work across French West Africa [source: nv-database]. The timing undermined France’s 1946 development initiative [source: nv-database]. The administration initially ignored the strike, expecting it to collapse, but community support sustained it: merchants, farmers, and marabouts supplied money and food, and a newspaper collection drive raised 134,615 francs in November and 454,555 francs in December [source: nv-database]. Women wrote songs and taunted strikebreakers [source: nv-database]. In mid-November, Ibrahima Sarr was arrested for breaking a compulsory arbitration decree, but the sentence was suspended [source: nv-database]. In December, the Régie offered minor concessions, which the union refused [source: nv-database]. The Régie hired new workers but could only fill less than a quarter of jobs by January 1948 [source: nv-database]. The Ivory Coast union defected in January 1948 and returned to work under arbitration, but the other unions held out [source: nv-database]. A newly appointed High Commissioner proposed a compromise on February 26, 1948, which favored the union considerably, guaranteeing no punishment, all personnel into cadres, and most auxiliaries accepted [source: nv-database]. The union accepted, and workers returned on March 19, 1948, with a celebratory march into Thiès [source: nv-database].

Key people & organizations

  • Ibrahima Sarr
  • Régie des chemins de Fer de l’Afrique Occidentale Francais (AOF)
  • Léopold Sédar Senghor
  • L’AOF newspaper
  • Union Régionale Syndicale de Guinée

Tactics used

The strike was the primary tactic, sustained by community support through donations and social pressure, while civil disobedience of compulsory arbitration laws and public speeches maintained morale and unity. [source: nv-database]

Outcome

Verdict: partial.

The strike achieved five out of six demands, with the compromise favoring the union considerably. The campaign survived and grew through widespread participation and community backing, though the Ivory Coast workers defected. [source: nv-database]

Lessons

  • Community support, including from merchants and religious leaders, can sustain a long strike.
  • Publicizing collection drives through newspapers can generate significant financial aid.
  • A strong, charismatic leader who tours to reaffirm commitment can prevent defections.
  • Timing a strike to disrupt economic initiatives can increase pressure on authorities.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • nv-database — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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