At the peak of the tobacco trade in the 1920's, 14,000 workers
were employed in the "Tobaccoshops" of Kavala, i.e. half of the
tobacco workforce of Greece. This workforce was characterized by
diversity and multiculturalism.
The first strike on Ottoman territory was organized already in
1879 by Greek, Turkish, Bulgarian, Jewish and Armenian tobacco
workers. In 1908, they created "Evdaemonia" ("Blessedness"), the
first tobacco workers union with 4,000 members of Christian,
Muslim and Jewish origin.
Women were artificially excluded from this first workers union.
Nevertheless, their work in the tobacco industry contributed
significantly in the emancipation of women in Greece and their
claim not only for labour but also for political rights.
Moreover, the struggles of the tobacco workers led in 1926 in the
foundation of the first Insurance Fund in Greece, the Tobacco
Workers Insurance Fund.
Important outcome of the dynamic tobacco movement was also the
election in 1934 of Mitsos Partsalidis, the first "Red Mayor" in
Greece.
