---
type: "Topics"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/topics/40281732.md"
description: "Why fear “lying flat”? Because workers going on strike is terrifying. Look at the large-scale strikes organized before 1949:The Jinghan Railway Strike (February 7th Strike), with about 30,000 workers from the entire line participating.The May Thirtieth Movement, the Shanghai General Strike, and the Canton-Hong Kong Strike, lasting up to 16 months, with over 250,000 participants.The 1922 Hong Kong Seamen's Strike, lasting 56 days, with 30,000 participants.The Anyuan Coal Mine Strike, with about 17,000 workers on a full strike, the slogan was “We were beasts of burden before, now we want to be human.” See, this slogan existed back then.All of these severely damaged the then-government. Destroying machinery and industrial facilities was also highly effective."
datetime: "2026-04-29T09:50:51.000Z"
locales:
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/topics/40281732.md)
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/topics/40281732.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/topics/40281732.md)
author: "[浩浩小课堂](https://longbridge.com/en/profiles/19784218.md)"
---

# Why fear “lying flat”? Because workers going on st…