Foundation On June 26, 1958, the Union of
Railroad Workers of the Mexican Republic () (STFRM) Local 13 of Matias Romero, Oaxaca, began a series of escalating
strikes, beginning at 2 hours in length, then expanding up to 8 hours, before finally calling a
general strike. The STFRM followed Vallejo's call for higher wages, an increase of 350 pesos a month, this became known as "Plan of the Southeast". The strikes were supported by the workers, however failed to gain support of its own union leader, Ortega Hernandez. The strikes began as the demands were not met. On June 26, 1958, the first strike lasted 2 hours and was participated in by almost 60,000 members. The following day on June 27, a 4-hour strike was held, and on June 28, a 6-hour strike. The strike on June 28 was not only of railroad workers, but found the support of
petroleum workers,
teachers, and
students. President
Adolfo Ruiz Cortines stepped in before the final steps of strike escalation. Cortines proposed a middle ground between the offer of the railroad, 200 pesos, and the lowered demand by the union of 250 pesos, settling on 215 pesos which was accepted by all parties. approximately 10,000 workers fired, and 800 prisoners taken, 150 of those accused of being communist agitators. Historians document the real number of arrested at 3,039 with 2,600 being released, 500 being tried in court. Of those arrested, Vallejo was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in prison for sedition, in addition to another 5 years for another offense. The government alleged Vallejo was a communist, of which he claims to have left the party in 1946, and that he had plotted the strikes with members of the Soviet
embassy in
Mexico City, the
military attaché and the
second secretary, who were later removed from the country. ==References==