

Dismissed from the railroads in 1863 for his union activities, Etienne Lantier found a job at the Voreux coal mine. But work was hard, wages were low and safety left much to be desired. Lantier tried to organize the miners into a union. When mine manager Hennebeau refused to negotiate, the workers launched a general strike, which ended with the intervention of the troops.
Yves Allégret
Madame Maigrat

Zoltán Makláry
Bonnemort

Simone Valère
Madame Hennebeau

Sándor Pécsi
Maheu

Michèle Cordoue
Widow Désir

Marianne Krencsey
'La Mouquette'