Ancient Egypt: home of the first recorded labor strike

Ancient Egyptians could have invented the picket line: What you are seeing above could be the first recorded labor strike, which occurred in Ancient Egypt in 1159 BC under Ramesses III, according to Business Insider Singapore. Tomb-builders and artisans began complaining of month-long payment delays as they prepared for a festival to honor Ramesses III. After government officials ignored their demands, they stopped working and took to the city streets yelling “we are hungry” as they blocked access to the Valley of the Kings. Delayed payments, labor strikes, anger over no holidays. This so eerily familiar 3,000 years later.