The history of the Maltese people for self determination is one long struggle. It goes back in time, precisely to June 1919 when four workers were shot dead by the British commandos while taking part in a mass workers' protest to oppose the announced increase in the price of bread. The birth of the General Workers Union and its existence ever since is synonymous with the improvement of the workers' working conditions and is also marked by its influence on the events leading to Malta's political and economic independence.
The general strike of 28 April 1958 ordered by the GWU was a turning point in Malta achieving its political, economical and constitutional freedoms. The strike was mainly caused by the bad social and working conditions of the working people. Adding to that, the intentional closure of the Malta Drydocks by the British authorities, which at that time provided the livelyhood of more than 13,000 families further worsened the situation.
The Maltese workers' aspirations were to acquire equality on the places of work, better salaries and to obtain the freedom of their country from foreign rule. The 28 April 1958 riots have strengthened the workers destiny to achieve the 1964 Independence Constitution and Freedom in 1979.