1905 - Workers

• February

  • 400,000 workers went on strike in St Petersburg.
• April

  • Illegal trade unions had formed in all major towns and cities and this brought a wave of strike action across the country.
• April + May

  • The first soviets (workers' councils) were set up.
  • These aimed to seize control of factories.
• October

  • A general strike was called which saw 2.5 million workers strike across Russia.
  • The strike of railwaymen was particularly significant as this caused the economy to be on the verge of collapse.
• October

  • Workers in St Petersburg formed a Soviet of Workers Deputies to coordinate their action.