September 4, 1904. A symbolic date in the history of the labor movement, of the workers' struggles. In Buggerru 120 years ago the anger of the miners exploded over the working conditions, over the unacceptable conditions of their work. Because of the harsh impositions of the French company that manages the mines. Because of the to keep the legitimate aspirations of the workers, the army arrives from Cagliari. Riots and protests.
Buggerru is the scene, that day, of a vigorous, extreme protest. The military opens fire and the toll of that day is tragic. Three victims: the miners Salvatore Montixi, Felice Littera, Giustino Pittau. It is a turning point in the history of the union. The two political and union leaders are Giuseppe Cavallera and Alcibiade Battelli, socialists, men of struggle, of action. In Avanti here is the chronicle of the events of Buggerru.
«Comrade Battelli was holding back the majority of the strikers in the management square by haranguing them. Doctor Cavallera, together with the infantry captain, rushed among the stones and bullets to calm the spirits and obtain a cessation of firing and stone-throwing; ten meters from the soldiers they found a dead worker and two wounded lying on the ground. Other wounded were fleeing. Several soldiers had minor injuries. Calm was barely restored. But too late! Three were arrested. Of the wounded workers, two are dead, three others are hospitalized».
120 years later, on Wednesday 4 September at 10 am, a ceremony is scheduled at the site of the massacre to remember that event and to pass on a fundamental memory of Italian history. In addition to the mayor Laura Cappelli, the president of the Region Alessandra Todde and the secretaries of Cgil, Cisl and Uil Fausto Durante, Pierluigi Ledda and Francesca Ticca will be present. On this occasion, the Region and the unions will sign the Buggerru Pact, a memorandum of understanding for quality, health and safety in the workplace.
