Lectors and the Labor Struggle

In 1878, the end of the 10 Years War in Cuba led to increased migration of Cubans to Florida. They brought with them the tradition of lectors: laborers paid collectively by cigar makers to read to them during their work hours.

Lectors served the purpose of entertainment and education, offering daily lessons on politics, literature, and current events. This was important for laborers whose work weeks were 6 days with 10-12 hours of work per day. The lectors’ role was crucial in spreading ideas of radicalism and worker rebellion. Their readings would end up leading to unionization amongst the workers. This culture went hand in hand with the support of the revolution back home in Cuba.

Two major unions would eventually form in Tampa: The Society of Cigar Rollers of Tampa and its proximities, as well as the Cigar Makers International Union. The first was usually referred to as La Resistencia, as their main goal was to resist labor exploitation.

Though they were able to carry out two successful strikes, La Resistencia met its end in 1901 after a strike demanding to shut down other factories ended with thirteen union leaders being kidnapped by a citizens’ committee (which included police), and sent to Honduras with the threat of the death penalty if they ever returned.

In June of 1910, CMIU members met up in the Ybor City Labor Temple to discuss how to get recognition from the factory owners in order to gain labor rights. By August of that year, 12,000 men went on strike, and the citizens’ committee was back, now more willing to use police force. What followed was the burning of the Balbin Brothers Cigar factory as well as other violent acts. The strike ended in January 1911 after some casualties, but the labor struggle would continue.

In 1929, the Great Depression caused a wave of radical thought amongst workers and led to the embrace of socialist and communist ideologies. This meant that workers were requesting proletariat-focused material from the recently revived lectors.

In 1931, another strike broke out as lectors were once again under attack from factory owners.

For three days, starting on November 28th, workers went on strike on the streets of Ybor City and held the strike until December 7th. Despite their best efforts, workers couldn't keep going without employment and the strike had to end, taking the lector program with it.