General strike in the French West Indies in 2009
The general strike in the French West Indies in 2009 began in Guadeloupe on January 20, 2009 and extended to the neighboring island of Martinique on February 5, 2009 .
The background to this general strike initiated by the “collective against exploitation ” (Liyannaj Kont Pwoftasyion, LKP) under its leader Elie Domota was essentially demands for an increase in minimum wages by 200 euros and for a reduction in prices for certain food items and public transport. After the strike paralyzed most of the local economy in a short period of time, but otherwise initially failed to bring any progress to negotiations, violent clashes and street fighting broke out in several places on the island in mid-February 2009, during which the union secretary Jacques Bino was killed and because of them the conflict now also attracted attention outside Guadeloupe - especially in the French and other European media. Forced to intervene in this way, the French government finally managed to reach an agreement (the so-called “Accord Bino”), which was concluded on March 4, 2009, both through financial concessions from the state and through pressure on local employers' associations the general strike was officially ended after nearly seven weeks.